Serbia to Maintain Close Ties With Russia After Parliamentary Elections, Government Official Says

Serbia intends to preserve close relations with Russia following the country's parliamentary elections, according to a report published by the Russian state news agency TASS.

The report cites the Director of the Serbian Government Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, identified only by the surname Arno, who described maintaining ties with Moscow as a "national interest" of Serbia.

TASS did not provide additional details in the excerpt regarding the specific nature of the relations referenced, the timing of the parliamentary elections, or further remarks from Arno on the subject.

Serbia has historically maintained diplomatic and cultural ties with Russia, and Serbian officials have periodically reaffirmed the importance of the relationship in public statements. This report from TASS presents the latest such statement attributed to a Serbian government representative.

Further details on the context of Arno's remarks, including any accompanying policy statements or reactions from other Serbian political figures, were not included in the available report.