31 October 2017

Russia’s President Putin to award Order of Friendship to Tomislav Nikolić, former President of Serbia and incumbent President of the National Council

President of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China Tomislav Nikolić had a meeting today with Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Serbia Alexander Chepurin.

Mr. Nikolić expressed his satisfaction with the increase in the trade in goods, and his hope that the enhancement of economic relations between the two countries would be maintained, primarily in the form of investment cooperation growth.

Ambassador Chepurin pointed out that the latest Russian investment exceeding EUR 300 million – the construction of the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS) complex for deep conversion in Pančevo – was indicative of the progress in Serbia-Russia economic relations, and bound to improve the conversion efficiency. “The trade exchange growth will be maintained at the initiative of the Russian Federation”, Ambassador Chepurin highlighted.

The two interlocutors noted the importance of the National Council representatives’ participation in the session of the Serbia-Russia Intergovernmental Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, to be held in December 2017.

Ambassador Chepurin underscored that Mr. Nikolić’s visit to Moscow, during which President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin would award him the Order of Friendship, was but another confirmation of the brotherhood and amity between the two nations, and proof of the great respect that the Russian people had for Mr. Nikolić’s consistent position that the two people’s relations should always be based on brotherhood and mutual respect.

Russia’s President Putin will present Mr. Nikolić with this high decoration at an official ceremony to be held in Kremlin on 4 November 2017, the National Unity Day, for his great personal contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership and friendly ties between Serbia and Russia.

President Putin signed the Decree on awarding the Order of Friendship on 30 May 2017.