Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is to begin a three-day visit to Russia during which he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Vucic marked the meeting with Putin, that will take place on Tuesday, as “big and important.”
The topics of the talks have not been officially announced, and after Russia delivered six donated MIG-29s to Serbia, “the only thing certain is that further improvement of military cooperation will be high on the agenda of the two presidents,” according to Tanjug.
During a recent visit by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Serbia, Vucic expressed interest in Buk-2 systems (one of the most modern mid-range missile systems) and Panzir (mid-range and short-range missiles) and the media suggest that this could also feature in his conversations in the Kremlin.
Promotion of economic cooperation will also be one of the most important topics, especially energy, and within that perspective, Serbia’s inclusion in the Turkish Stream project, as well as gas supplies.
In an interview with Russia’s TASS agency in early December, Vucic said that relations with Russia are a priority for Serbia not only because of the past, but also because of the future.
He said the visit comes at a time when Serbia is under pressure for its connections and relations with Russia, and was being asked “not to sit on two chairs.”
Vucic repeated several times during the interview that his country was “sitting on the Serbian chair” and that the country was “clearly determined in favor of joining the EU, but also for cooperation with Russia” and would never impose sanctions on Russia.
According to Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, several new agreements with Russia are expected to be signed during the visit of the Serbian delegation, while economic projects and investments will be agreed for the coming year.
Vucic will on Monday visit the Scientific and Technological Park and then deliver a state decoration posthumously given to Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin, a great friend of Serbia.
The delegation led by Vucic will include Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin, Minister of Economy Goran Knezevic and Minister of Technological Innovations Nenad Popovic.
Previously, Vucic and Putin talked in the Kremlin in March while Vucic was still serving as prime minister.
Source: b92
