Russian embassy in Belgrade dismisses Nova report as unfounded speculation

BELGRADE - The Russian embassy in Serbia dismissed on Friday a report by Belgrade-based paper Nova as unfounded speculation and noted that cooperation between Belgrade and Moscow "strongly irritates" certain media outlets.

"We regret to say that the partnership approach to development of the cooperation between Moscow and Belgrade strongly irritates certain media outlets that are literally 'programmed' for unfounded criticism of the foreign policies of Russia and Serbia," the embassy said in a statement.

In the front-page report, published on Friday, Nova said the relations between Belgrade and Moscow had deteriorated and that Russian Deputy FM Alexander Grushko had quickly left Serbia after a recent visit to Belgrade as well as that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had allegedly made three phone calls to Vladimir Putin during the visit but that the Russian president had refused to answer.

"We highly appreciate the warm welcome given to the Russian delegation, in keeping with the friendly nature of our bilateral relations," the embassy said in the statement, published on its Instagram account.

It also said talks held with Serbian top officials - Vucic, PM Milos Vucevic, Deputy PMs Ivica Dacic and Aleksandar Vulin, FM Marko Djuric and Minister Nenad Popovic, who co-chairs a Serbia-Russia committee on trade and economic and scientific and technical cooperation - had been open and comprehensive.