Russia wants Serbia to become a leader in energy in the Balkans, Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin stated on Thursday and noted that this could be the central topic of the talks between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Serbian hosts during Putin's visit to Belgrade next week.

Konuzin pointed out that in addition to the field of energy, the talks would also focus on economic topics.

Russia is aware that Serbia wants to hear how the South Stream pipeline project would be realised and Putin will inform Serbian officials about the preparations, Konuzin told reporters at the Belgrade Faculty of Political Sciences where he delivered a lecture.

Putin's forthcoming visit is another step in the series of intensive contacts between the two countries, Konuzin said.

He reminded that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Serbia in October 2009, and expressed expectation that Serbian President Boris Tadic would visit Russia this year.

The ambassador stated that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to visit Serbia in April, while Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov should also visit the country.

Serbia should also be visited by Russian Minister of Emergency Situations Sergey Shoigu, who also serves as the co-chair of the joint committee for commercial, economic, scientific and technical cooperation between the two countries, Konuzin said.

The Russian ambassador pointed out that Putin's visit to Belgrade on March 23 will in no way be related to the anniversary of NATO bombing of Serbia.