A delegation of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs is paying a working visit to Serbia.
A delegation of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, headed by the chair of the committee Grigory Karasin, is currently on a working visit in the Republic of Serbia. The delegation comprises his deputies Yelena Afanaseva and Bair Zhamsuyev, and member of the committee Aleksey Kondratiev.
The two countries’ committees on international affairs convened for a meeting, which was followed by a discussion between the Russian senators and active members of the Group of Friendship with Russia in the National Assembly of Serbia.
Grigory Karasin reported that during the meeting, the parliament members extensively discussed bilateral and international agendas, emphasising the importance of deepening interparliamentary and inter-regional links. It was noted that parliamentary cooperation plays a particularly crucial role during periods of international turbulence, as the establishment of the legal foundations for the links between the two countries, along with fostering an atmosphere of friendship and trust between the peoples of Russia and Serbia, relies on effective communication between their parliaments.
The parties focused on cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as countering the falsification of history, revisiting and distorting the outcomes of World War II, and opposing attempts to glorify Nazism. In their remarks, the Russian senators noted that it is unacceptable to distort the truth about the past for the sake of opportunistic interests, and stressed that cynical and crude politicisation of historical events inevitably increases tensions in international relations and creates conditions for the resurgence of neo-Nazism and radicalism. The developments in Ukraine, which is is under the control of neo-Nazis, prove the high cost of departing from the spiritual legacy that helped defeat Nazism.
According to Grigory Karasin, the exchange of opinions confirmed that relations between the two countries are developing dynamically in the spirit of a strategic partnership, despite the complicated international situation. Serbian parliament members commended the level of Russia-Serbia relations, which have deep historical roots, and expressed their willingness to continue contacts with their Russian colleagues.
“Russia and Serbia are bound not only by history and modern politics but also by deep spiritual ties. We highly value the fact that, relying on its national interests, Belgrade prioritises the preservation of overarching long-term cooperation with Russia. Russia and Serbia firmly reject unilateral solutions to international problems and share a commitment to strict compliance with international law. Serbia remembers all too well the consequences of disregarding the fundamental principles of international law, as evidenced by the tragic substitution of international law with the law of force in the spring of 1999,” Grigory Karasin noted.
During their visit, the senators attended a conference of Russian compatriots in Serbia and laid flowers at the Liberators of Belgrade Memorial.