Putin did not invite Serbia’s Vucic to his inauguration

By Inessa S On Apr 30, 2018

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic (L) in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence, outside Moscow, Russia, 08 July 2014. Media reports state that under discussion in Aleksandar Vucic's visit will be the Ukrainian crisis and South Stream, a planned gas pipeline to transport Russian natural gas through the Black Sea to Bulgaria and through Serbia. EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV / POOL

Serbian President Alexander Vučić did not receive an invitation to the inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Putin , which will be held on May 7 in Moscow. He told journalists this on April 28 in Belgrade but at the same time Vucic did not rule out that the invitation will arrive another day.

The Serbian President also stated that he sees nothing disputable about the fact that the head of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has received his invitation to Putin’s inauguration, but he did not.

“Serbia is independent in making its decisions. The choice of Serbia is the way to the EU, friendship with Russia, China and Turkey, ” the news agency Beta quoted Vučić as saying.

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The Serbian press recently discussed the reasons that could push the Kremlin to such a decision. Thus, the Belgrade publication Blic admits that what is happening is connected with the attitude of Serbia to the issue of granting diplomatic status to the Russian-Serbian humanitarian center in Nis, as well as frequent meetings of Alexander Vucic with German Chancellor Angela Merkel . According to the publication, during the last month and a half Vucic and Merkel met twice, which clearly demonstrates with whom Vučić intends to consult on the solution of the Kosovo issue.

Serbia should technically provide the Russian-Serbian humanitarian center in Niš with the appropriate status, according to which the Center’s employees will work in Serbia on the same terms as the embassy staff. In 2014, NATO received a diplomatic status in Serbia, after which Russia demanded the same status for its humanitarian center. The Serbian government has not yet taken a decision on it.