If Vladimir Putin enters with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, the Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade, thousands cheering you. But the impression the vicinity is deceptive. In reality, Serbia wants to be close to the EU.
Putin is in Belgrade, a welcome guest
Storms of enthusiasm. “The 70,000 citizens want to welcome Putin”, writes the Belgrade-based tabloid press in the run-up to the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Welcome walk” is the term for the triumphant reception of Putin. Is organized, the action of the Association “centre for the development of Belgrade”, even for the connoisseurs of the political scene of Serbia are hardly known in the organization.
President Vladimir Jestrović claims to have for the event and no financial and political support of the government. At a press conference in Belgrade, he announced, not without Pride, that in the case of the “walk” both presidents a little speech would keep.
In Serbia, it is claimed, meanwhile, that a lot of Putin Fans who come from outside of Belgrade, would not this arriving from enthusiasm for the Russian President. According to the Serbian Online Portal “policy Ekspres” will be compensated the supporters of the government party, the SNS (“Srpska Narodna Stranka) with a daily fee of about 13 Euro. In addition, meals and bus transportation would be provided for each prospect. An accusation, however, denied by the ruling party, the SNS immediately.
Putin and Vucic met so far, twelve times – as here 2014 in Belgrade
Putin as a campaign helper
For the President of Serbia, Vučić the pictures with Putin seem to be in front of the jubilant setting is particularly important. Since the beginning of December, each week will demonstrate across the country, tens of thousands against the chief of state. They demand the end of political violence and proper reporting of public television.
Also the Russian President Putin the Meeting with Vučić. According to a survey by the independent Russian opinion research Institute, Lewada-center of the Russian citizens to their President and, increasingly, for the problems in the country.
“Therefore, Putin needs a picture powerful visit in a country that is not part of the circle of the former Soviet banana republics, but a candidate for EU membership is, and where one loves him, appreciates and supports. And this is Serbia,” said Belgrade political analyst Boris Varga DW.
Symbolic Gestures
Already twelve times Vučić and Putin met so far. The dramatic Gestures are unlikely to be missing this time. In the run-up to the meeting of the Russian-designated foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, the Serbs and the Russians as a “truly brotherly peoples”. The same time, it became known that Vučić received the Aleksandar Nevsky order.
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In the order there is a high Russian government award. Among the winning people is also authoritarian foreign state are to be found next to the Kremlin in the middle of oligarchs and state servants, men like the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev.
The head of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Belgrade, Simon, Ilse, is not just a symbolic, but also a strategic ambivalence of Serbia, Vučić: “It is a basic strategic orientation towards Europe,” the head of office is missing. This would through the “game” with Russia”.
Memory of Oliver Ivanović
A large protest rally held in Belgrade, a day before Putin’s arrival – this time as a reminder of the murder of Oliver Ivanović. The Serbian opposition politician, died on 16. January 2018, after an assassination attempt.
From Belgrade insulted, and the highest officials from the surroundings of Vučić offended the Serbs in Kosovo, a popular politician Ivanović and rushed against him. Meanwhile, a concerned Vučić, the widow of Ivanović a Job with the government in Belgrade. The price: you would have to distance itself from the protesters to the public, the demand the arrest of the still unknown killers and clients.
For weeks, tens of thousands in Serbia protest against Vučić
To Russia, squinting, to the West go
The former Serbian province of Kosovo, declared in 2008 independence, which Serbia has not accepted until now. Among other things, Belgrade in the UN security Council prevented with the help of Russia and China, the inclusion of Kosovo in the UN.
At the same time, Serbia aims for EU membership, however, without its current Kosovo policy is correct and want to friendship with Moscow to give up. So about Belgrade and not in the case of the EU sanctions against Russia.
For the approximation to the EU, but this is a major stumbling block, says Simon, Ilse: “This will only go, if Serbia to support the EU-imposed sanctions against Russia in the aftermath of the annexation of the Crimea.”
Gazprom Neft since 2009, the entire Serbian Oil industry
While the political proximity to Russia has for Serbia, a great symbolic significance, is the economic reality somewhere else. In the EU countries, about two-thirds of Serbia’s external trade. In the West work, study and life much more Serbs than in Russia.
Moscow-controlled Oil industry
On the other hand, Moscow has achieved in Serbia’s economic and political influence with little effort. “Gazprom Neft” since 2009, the entire Serbian Oil industry, and claims to have around three billion Euro investment in modernisation. A Declaration on strategic partnership between the two countries was signed in 2013 in Sochi. There is a free trade agreement.
However, I give Putin nothing, says Simon, Ilse: “Serbia pays significantly more for the raw materials from Russia than Germany, for example, the sanctions against Russia imposed”.