First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić visited the Centre for Security Cooperation RACVIAC in Rakitje, which hosted the annual meeting of ambassadors.
Pusić said that RACVIAC was a useful platform for exchanging opinions and developing security and stability in the region, while RACVIAC Director Branimir Mandić said that the centre, which will mark its 15th anniversary next year, has new prospects.
The meeting was attended by ambassadors and military envoys of the 29 countries that participate in or support this regional centre.
After the meeting, Pusić gave press statements. Russian President Vladimir Putin's letter to European prime ministers concerning possible restrictions to gas deliveries to Europe is an invitation for talks on providing financial assistance to Ukraine which the EU has been discussing for a long time, Hina quotes her saying. "Setting up a fund for assistance to Ukraine is a topic which the European Union has been discussing since the start of the Ukrainian crisis and the novelty is that the Russian Federation is prepared to talk about it," Pusić said. Putin on Thursday sent a letter to European prime ministers in which he warns them there will be restrictions to gas deliveries to Europe unless Ukraine pays its bills. Voice of Russia said the letter was sent to 16 addresses - the leaders of Croatia, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Moldova. "The letter says that the Russian Federation cannot bear the consequences of lower gas prices on its own, namely it could not 'de facto' sponsor Ukraine when it comes to gas," Pusić said commenting on the content of the letter.
Russia "expects other countries as well, notably those directly interested in the matter, to offer certain assistance, cooperation and dialogue," Pusić said, adding that "this is an invitation to jointly find a solution to this problem." The letter was sent to countries depending on Russian gas. Some of them are members of the EU, some are not. "There is an initiative to have countries that received the letter and are members of the EU to respond in a joint letter. This will be discussed at the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg on Monday," Pusić said.