Medvedev to meet Tadić, address parliament

Serbia is ready to welcome Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who will arrive in Belgrade on a historic visit on Tuesday morning. This is the first visit of a Russian president to Serbia. Medvedev to meet Tadic, address parliament Thousands of Serbian police (MUP) officers will secure the city, including those from MUP's helicopter, special and counter-terrorist units. They will be helped by teams of Russian security personnel. Medvedev will first be greeted at the airport, and will then be welcomed with full state and military honors in front of the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade. After that, the Russian president and his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic will have an hour-long face-to-face discussion. The two leaders will after that join the members of their delegations to continue their conversation. It is expected the meeting will focus on strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries and on economic issues, and on the previously announced Russian loan to Serbia worth a billion dollars. A formal signing of inter-state agreements and a joint address of the two presidents to the press will take place afterwards. According to the details of Medvedev's visit that have been made public, he and Tadic will later place wreaths at the Cemetery of the Liberators of Belgrade, accompanied by Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas and WW2 veterans. In the afternoon, the Russian leader will address the Serbian parliament. After that, he will attend a reception at the parliament building, that will be organized in his honor, and also attended by his delegation, Serbian MPs and other guests. Medvedev’s visit to Belgrade will end with a gathering at the Sava Center conference hall, organized to mark the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from Nazi German occupation. Serbia's top officials and members of the diplomatic corps will also attend this ceremony. While in Belgrade, Medvedev will also visit the Patriarchate, where he will receive the Order of St. Sava of the First Degree – the highest honor given by the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC). Medvedev will be welcomed at the Patriarchate by the members of the SPC Holy Assembly of Bishops, headed by Metropolitan Amfilohije, who acts on behalf of the ailing head of the Church, Patriarch Pavle. The Russian president will arrive along with a delegation of about a hundred members, and 50 reporters. Many streets in the city center and in New Belgrade will be temporarily closed for traffic and pedestrians as Medvedev's motorcade passes. Ahead of the visit and tomorrow, other events will be organized in honor of the Russian leader's visit, including the unveiling of a statue of Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin – a gift from the Association of Literary Authors of Russia in Belgrade – while the Belgrade University Faculty of Philology will hold the opening ceremony for its Russian Center. Meanwhile, in central parts of Belgrade, the Russo-Serbian Friendship Society will organize an open air campaign, dubbed, "Thank you, Russia".

Medvedev to meet Tadić, address parliament

Thousands of Serbian police (MUP) officers will secure the city, including those from MUP's helicopter, special and counter-terrorist units. They will be helped by teams of Russian security personnel.

Medvedev will first be greeted at the airport, and will then be welcomed with full state and military honors in front of the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade.

After that, the Russian president and his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadić will have an hour-long face-to-face discussion. The two leaders will after that join the members of their delegations to continue their conversation.

It is expected the meeting will focus on strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries and on economic issues, and on the previously announced Russian loan to Serbia worth a billion dollars.

A formal signing of inter-state agreements and a joint address of the two presidents to the press will take place afterwards.

According to the details of Medvedev's visit that have been made public, he and Tadić will later place wreaths at the Cemetery of the Liberators of Belgrade, accompanied by Belgrade Mayor Dragan Đilas and WW2 veterans.

In the afternoon, the Russian leader will address the Serbian parliament. After that, he will attend a reception at the parliament building, that will be organized in his honor, and also attended by his delegation, Serbian MPs and other guests.

Medvedev’s visit to Belgrade will end with a gathering at the Sava Center conference hall, organized to mark the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from Nazi German occupation.

Serbia's top officials and members of the diplomatic corps will also attend this ceremony.

While in Belgrade, Medvedev will also visit the Patriarchate, where he will receive the Order of St. Sava of the First Degree – the highest honor given by the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC).

Medvedev will be welcomed at the Patriarchate by the members of the SPC Holy Assembly of Bishops, headed by Metropolitan Amfilohije, who acts on behalf of the ailing head of the Church, Patriarch Pavle.

The Russian president will arrive along with a delegation of about a hundred members, and 50 reporters.

Many streets in the city center and in New Belgrade will be temporarily closed for traffic and pedestrians as Medvedev's motorcade passes.

Ahead of the visit and tomorrow, other events will be organized in honor of the Russian leader's visit, including the unveiling of a statue of Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin – a gift from the Association of Literary Authors of Russia in Belgrade – while the Belgrade University Faculty of Philology will hold the opening ceremony for its Russian Center.

Meanwhile, in central parts of Belgrade, the Russo-Serbian Friendship Society will organize an open air campaign, dubbed, "Thank you, Russia".