In Belgrade, they're currently making the final preparations for tomorrow's visit by Vladimir Putin. The president has already visited Serbia four times. He and his counterpart, Aleksandar Vučić, will discuss a wide range of issues from the opportunity to extend the TurkStream gas pipeline to the escalated situation around Kosovo. The presidents touched upon many of those issues in their interviews which they gave before the visit.
Why are Russia and Serbia now closer allies than before? What could this alliance lead to in the near future?
Here's Alexander Balitsky reporting from Belgrade.
Warming up their voices in the dressing room, musicians of a monastery choir from the city of Novi Sad confessed that that concert is special for them because the funds raised will be spent on the decoration of the Russian Church of the Holy Trinity.
"We'll say thanks to the Russian people".
It was retired Serbian retired paratroopers who came up with the idea to hold a charity event. They didn't forget that a Russian tiny church, built at the beginning of the last century by immigrants from Russia, was ruined when NATO bombers attacked Belgrade in 1999. They also discussed the hit that the Orthodoxy is taking today when in violation of the church canons, politics is interfering in the religious matters in fraternal Ukraine, as they say here.
Vojislav Vidaković, representative of the Central Cossack Army: "Brother fighting against brother... You know, we've already been there long ago".
The Serbian Orthodox Church was against Instanbul's decision concerning the so-called autocephaly for the Ukrainian schismatics from the very beginning. Serbian journalists asked Vladimir Putin about the events in Ukraine, among other things, before his visit to Belgrade.
"The new structure of the church is a purely secular political project. Its main purpose is to split the people of Russia and Ukraine, to incite not only national but also religious discord".
Serbia is thoroughly preparing for Putin's visit. They put flags in the streets. Among various Serbian souvenirs, there are T-shirts with a photo of the Russian president on them in every shop in Belgrade. Both foreign tourists and Serbs buy them. All of the polls indicate that Vladimir Putin is the most popular foreign politician in Serbia.
The secret to his popularity is, of course, the position of Russia, which has always supported Serbia on the Kosovo issue and purely economic projects. In the course of the upcoming visit, the gas industry will be discussed. Belgrade is interested in the extension of the TurkStream gas pipeline. There isn't anything political behind it, stressed the Serbian president.
Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia: "Today, Russia offers the cheapest gas. When they extend the TurkStream to Bulgaria, we'll pay for it to be extended to us. That's why Putin's visit is important".
"Serbia will not only use Russian gas but also ensure its transit. Of course, it'll bring a substantial profit to the Serbian economy, provide new jobs, and strengthen the energy security of your country and Central and Southeast Europe as a whole".
Belgrade's complete refusal to join the anti-Russian sanctions, despite pressure by the EU, means more opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation: in the energy industry, including the nuclear energy industry, education, agriculture. Almost 20 agreements have been prepared to be signed.
Nenad Popović, Minister of Innovation and Technological Development: "One of the key agreements is the agreement between the government of the Republic of Serbia and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. It's a very important agreement. We want to benefit from those good projects that the ASI has been working on in the last few years".
The meeting between the presidents won't be confined to signing the agreements. On Christmas Day, Putin signed a decree on awarding the Order of Alexander Nevsky to the Serbian President. Tomorrow, he'll give it to him personally. Anđelko, the father of Aleksandar Vučić, is raising a toast for friendship and telling what this award means for their family.
Anđelko Vučić, father of Aleksandar Vučić: "The Order of Alexander Nevsky is also important because my father, grandfather of Aleksandar, loved Russia very much. He was killed by Croatian fascists — the Ustashe. He dreamed of going to Russia on horseback right after the end of the war so much".
Tens of thousands of Serbs will gather to meet the Russian president tomorrow. Local journalist unveiled the details. MiGs will escort the Russian president's plane. This is another proof of the special relationship between Serbia and Russia.
Alexander Balitsky, Illya Nalyotov, Andrei Yurchuk, Alexandra Terpugova, and Inna Koshkina for Vesti from Belgrade.
