"Russian president's visit to mark new phase"

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Belgrade on October 20 will mark a new phase in bilateral relations. This is according to Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin, who spoke to reporters in Belgrade on Thursday. "Russian president's visit to mark new phase" Medvedev's visit, at the invitation of Serbian President Boris Tadic, will also be deeply symbolic, as it will take place on the day when Belgrade was liberated by Russian troops and Yugoslav partizans from Nazi occupation, he told a news conference at the embassy. Both presidents will pay tribute to all who were killed in that operation, Konuzin said. Russia sees this visit in the context of the Soviet Union's victory in WWII for which it, and Yugoslavia had paid a high price, he said. The program of the visit has not yet been finalized, but the two presidents will certainly discuss the fostering of bilateral relations, especially in the energy and investment sectors and infrastructure projects, the ambassador stated. Another topic will be Russia's EUR 1bn loan to Serbia for budget stabilization and various projects, he said. "When Tadic asked Medvedev for financial aid last March, Medvedev said he would consider it constructively and this issue is now being considered by the Russian government. The answer will be positive, but some specific details are still being studied," he added. Although Russia, too, is suffering the effects of global recession, it is ready to help Serbia as much as it can, Konuzin noted. Medvedev and Tadic will also discuss a series of political issues concerning the Balkans, Meanwhile, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said that the October visit "will be historic". The program will include ceremonies of celebration of the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade in WWII, he said, noting that this date symbolizes the unity of the Serbian and Russian peoples in times of serious historical challenges. The main topics of the talks Medvedev will have with Serbian leaders will be the fostering of political and economic relations and of cultural, educational and scientific cooperation. Serbia is strategically committed to membership in the EU, but Russia will always remain a sincere and reliable friend to Serbia, he said. "Serbia will be the EU member with the closest ties with Moscow," he said.

"Russian president's visit to mark new phase"

Medvedev's visit, at the invitation of Serbian President Boris Tadić, will also be deeply symbolic, as it will take place on the day when Belgrade was liberated by Russian troops and Yugoslav partizans from Nazi occupation, he told a news conference at the embassy.

Both presidents will pay tribute to all who were killed in that operation, Konuzin said.

Russia sees this visit in the context of the Soviet Union's victory in WWII for which it, and Yugoslavia had paid a high price, he said.

The program of the visit has not yet been finalized, but the two presidents will certainly discuss the fostering of bilateral relations, especially in the energy and investment sectors and infrastructure projects, the ambassador stated.

Another topic will be Russia's EUR 1bn loan to Serbia for budget stabilization and various projects, he said.

"When Tadić asked Medvedev for financial aid last March, Medvedev said he would consider it constructively and this issue is now being considered by the Russian government. The answer will be positive, but some specific details are still being studied," he added.

Although Russia, too, is suffering the effects of global recession, it is ready to help Serbia as much as it can, Konuzin noted.

Medvedev and Tadić will also discuss a series of political issues concerning the Balkans,

Meanwhile, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić said that the October visit "will be historic".

The program will include ceremonies of celebration of the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade in WWII, he said, noting that this date symbolizes the unity of the Serbian and Russian peoples in times of serious historical challenges.

The main topics of the talks Medvedev will have with Serbian leaders will be the fostering of political and economic relations and of cultural, educational and scientific cooperation.

Serbia is strategically committed to membership in the EU, but Russia will always remain a sincere and reliable friend to Serbia, he said.

"Serbia will be the EU member with the closest ties with Moscow," he said.