Serbia gets world attention, Putin visit trigger

Russia's President Vladimir Putin leads the top Russian delegation during visit to Serbia in order to develop co-operation with the country intended to become part of the EU, writes British television network BBC.

Putin's statement before the visit is cited, accusing Western countries of “destabilisation” of the Balkans.

Meanwhile “Bloomberg” in the report on Putin's visit to Serbia, says he was hosted as a hero, while Serbia is trying to gain the power needed to resolve the Kosovo issue.

British newspaper “Guardian” writes Putin has made Serbian President Vuciq the highest state honours in hopes it will strengthen bilateral reports and boost Moscow's influence in Belgrade.

The agency “Associated Press” sets aside the fact that a high welcome for the Russian president, who, according to this visit, shows his support for “the populist leader of this Balkan country”
The agency also cites the fact that Serbia maintains close ties with Russia, even though formally wants to be an EU member.

“Belgrade refuses to join Western sanctions against Moscow due to Ukraine and opposes NATO membership” the AP writes.

Putin makes a very symbolic visit to Belgrade to mark “Serbian-Russian friendship” writes French portal “Le Courier des Balkans”. The visit according to this medium takes place at the time President Vuciq faces popular protests.

This medium writes that there is an open question, and that is Moscow's stance on Kosovo.

Russia's “in its interest is to continue its opposition to Kosovo's independence and keep “status kuon” or a frozen conflict, in order to justify Ukraine's Crimey Policy” writes, adding that “perhaps Putin can accept the exchange of territories because then this precedent would enable the extent of the impact, in case Republika Srpska wants to seced from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The historian and expert on Serbian-Russian relations, Milivoje Beslin, praised for the French portal that today's visit is good propaganda for Putin and Vucinqi.

Beslin believes Putin does not have many destinations in which he is welcome due to Western sanctions and thus wants to show influence in the Balkans. According to him, Vuciq, on the other hand, must strengthen his position in the final phase of negotiations on resolving the Kosovo issue.

Friendship between Serbs and Russians, because they are Orthodox believers and share Byzantine heritage, is a myth. For Russia, these are only strategic interests, the medium reported, citing the statement of an unidentified former diplomat.

The Russian newspaper “Kommersant” quoted Russian historian at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade Alexei Timofeyev as saying that Serbs have a special love for Russians for various reasons, including war on the same side in conflicts, but also the decline of enthusiasm in Serbia to join the European Union.

Putin's “vision in Belgrade is largely of political importance and must answer the principle question: is Serbia ready to be Moscow's main ally in the region or will continue its approach with the EU and NATO, balancing between the West and Russia”, writes the Russian daily “Commersant”.
The paper says Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq has actively promoted the idea of exchanging territories with Pristina, as condition for normalising relations, without which Serbia's EU integration is impossible, broadcast the REL. /Periscopi