For the second time in over four years, Russia's head of state Vladimir Putin arrived for a brief one-day visit to Serbia’s capital and was greeted by his host, President Aleksandar Vucic, at the Belgrade Nikola Tesla airport, N1 reported on Thursday.
Putin is scheduled to visit the Liberators of Belgrade cemetery, after which he would meet with Serbian state officials for talks on a variety of issues, including the issue of Kosovo, with President Vucic. The visit also aims to boost economic ties between the two nations, with over 20 trade agreements expected to be signed.
Putin will also decorate Vucic with the Order of Alexander Nevsky, one the most prestigious Russian orders of merit, while Vucic will present the Russian President with a three-months-old puppy of the local Sarplaninac Shepherd dog, named Pasha.
Tight security measures accompanying the visit, have caused parts of Belgrade to be entirely cleared of traffic, including the ban on parking in the streets surrounding the St. Sava Cathedral, where tens of thousands people are expected to greet the two presidents.
The capital has also seen some cosmetic repair works on buildings in preparation for the visit, including the water in the central fountain reflecting the colours of the two countries’ flags.
Ahead of the visit, Russia’s ambassador to Serbia, Alexandar Chepurin, said the regular meetings between Putin and Vucic was proof of good bilateral relations.
“Though there is a saying that all people are brothers, Serbs and Russians are of the same background, same religion and have the same glorious past, so, they are even closer brothers,” Chepurin said.
Meanwhile, Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci wrote on his Facebook profile that while stronger US and NATO presence in the region served to secure more peace, stability and prosperity, increased Russian involvement meant quite the opposite. His comment came in response to Putin’s statement ahead of his visit to Serbia accusing the US of being a destabilising actor in the Balkans.
Several Serbian NGOs signed a statement on Thursday protesting over what they saw as “glorification of Putin’s authoritarian regime” in Serbia.
