Russian envoy "intervenes" against conference on NATO

A conference on Serbia's military neutrality, that was to be held today, has been canceled. One of the organizers, which include the International Institute for Security, NATO's Public Diplomacy Department and the municipality of Varvarin, claims that the gathering was canceled because of an intervention of Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Konuzin. Russian envoy "intervenes" against conference on NATO The gathering was dubbed, "Serbia with strong allies, or neutral?". The International Institute for Security now say that there was "unacceptable meddling of the Russian embassy in Belgrade" in its activates, and those of the municipality. Ambassador Konuzin did not wish to make any comments regarding this issue. Institute's Zoran Dragisic told B92 that the embassy's culture attaché Aleksandr Konanihin phoned Varvarin Municipal President Zoran Milenkovic, to tell him that the embassy did not favorably view the planned gathering. "One official of the Russian embassy called the municipal president and conditioned a Russian delegation's presence at the marking of the 200th anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising, the Battle on the Varvarin Field, with the holding of the conference," Dragisic claims. The conference was supposed to come after similar gatherings on the same subject in Zrenjanin, Subotica and Novi Sad. Dragisic said that Russian representatives were present at the first conference, but, although invited, declined to attend others. He said that the "intervention" of the Russian top envoy in Serbia was "something humiliating for Serbia as an independent and sovereign country". Dragisic also stated that he believed it was "unusual for foreign diplomats to meddle in events in one country", and added, "especially when it comes to scientific and professional conferences". "It must also be taken into account that the conference was in no way directed against Russia or Russian interests, but intended only to deal with the issue of Serbia's future," said Dragisic, who also explained that a letter of protest was sent to the ambassador, and Serbia's MFA and president. The Russian embassy in Belgrade confirmed for Tanjug news agency that the ambassador received an invitation to attend the conference, and decided not to attend – something, the embassy noted, "he is entitled to". The embassy has also denied than any of its employees contacted Milankovic by phone, while Milankovic himself today would not confirm the institute's allegations, saying only that he "cannot prove" that the conference was canceled after the Russian embassy intervened. He also said the gathering was postponed for the fall. Varvarin is one of the towns that suffered during NATO's attack against Serbia in 1999. In a single day, 10 civilians were killed while 30 were wounded when a bridge there was bombed. Aleksandr Konuzin, right (Tanjug, file)

Russian envoy "intervenes" against conference on NATO

The gathering was dubbed, "Serbia with strong allies, or neutral?".

The International Institute for Security now say that there was "unacceptable meddling of the Russian embassy in Belgrade" in its activates, and those of the municipality.

Ambassador Konuzin did not wish to make any comments regarding this issue.

Institute's Zoran Dragišić told B92 that the embassy's culture attaché Aleksandr Konanihin phoned Varvarin Municipal President Zoran Milenković, to tell him that the embassy did not favorably view the planned gathering.

"One official of the Russian embassy called the municipal president and conditioned a Russian delegation's presence at the marking of the 200th anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising, the Battle on the Varvarin Field, with the holding of the conference," Dragišić claims.

The conference was supposed to come after similar gatherings on the same subject in Zrenjanin, Subotica and Novi Sad.

Dragišić said that Russian representatives were present at the first conference, but, although invited, declined to attend others.

He said that the "intervention" of the Russian top envoy in Serbia was "something humiliating for Serbia as an independent and sovereign country". Dragišić also stated that he believed it was "unusual for foreign diplomats to meddle in events in one country", and added, "especially when it comes to scientific and professional conferences".

"It must also be taken into account that the conference was in no way directed against Russia or Russian interests, but intended only to deal with the issue of Serbia's future," said Dragišić, who also explained that a letter of protest was sent to the ambassador, and Serbia's MFA and president.

The Russian embassy in Belgrade confirmed for Tanjug news agency that the ambassador received an invitation to attend the conference, and decided not to attend – something, the embassy noted, "he is entitled to".

The embassy has also denied than any of its employees contacted Milanković by phone, while Milanković himself today would not confirm the institute's allegations, saying only that he "cannot prove" that the conference was canceled after the Russian embassy intervened.

He also said the gathering was postponed for the fall.

Varvarin is one of the towns that suffered during NATO's attack against Serbia in 1999. In a single day, 10 civilians were killed while 30 were wounded when a bridge there was bombed.