Putin accuses the West of destabilizing the Balkans, Serbia welcomes him: Foreign media on the visit of the Russian president
Putin is leading a powerful delegation visiting Serbia with the aim to "cement" the cooperation with Serbia that wants to join the European Union - the BBC reported
Russian President Vladimir Putin warns the West on the Balkans, while Serbia prepares a luxurious welcome for him, writes the British BBC in the wake of Putin's visit to Belgrade.
Recommended
She "accidentally" got in a school and she became one of the best 50 teachers in the world: This is a story about Katarina Veljkovic, the pride of Serbian education (PHOTO)
The terrible death of a Serb on a construction site in Austria: He was cleaning the roof from snow and fell down six meters into the snow. He was immediately covered with it
Putin is said to be leading a powerful delegation visiting Serbia with the aim to "cement" the cooperation with Serbia that wants to join the European Union.
On the eve of the visit, the British service reminds that Putin has accused some Western countries of "destabilizing" the Balkans.
The text raises a question why Serbia continues to demonstrate its friendship with Russia if they are so determined to join the EU and adds that playing the card of relationship with Moscow it only appeals to the conservative - nationalistic support to president Vucic and Serbian Progressive Party.
That also emphasizes the Slovenian, Orthodox Christian character of the country, although the road of Serbia is towards the West, added in the text.
It also helps Vucic to claim that the politics which brings Serbia closer to the EU membership, like the normalization of relationships with Kosovo, isn't imposed by Brussels, but that it is a rational choice to improve the life of citizens, states the BBC.
BBC considers that the arrival of Putin at Serbia warts the EU that they shouldn't take the loyalty of Serbia lightly.
On the other hand, Vladimir Putin will undoubtedly enjoy the unease of Western diplomats as they see the leading candidate for EU membership roll out the red carpet, concludes the BBC.
(Telegraf.co.uk / Tanjug)