Serbs in Kosovo to receive 35 tons of aid from Russia

A 35- ton aid consignment for Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija arrived from Russia at the Konstantin Veliki Airport in Nis on Thursday. The plane from Russia landed this morning, and was welcomed by Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic and Russian Ambassador in Belgrade Aleksandr Konuzin. Serbs in Kosovo to receive 35 tons of aid from Russia The humanitarian aid comprises food products, including eight tons of sugar and canned food, and wood-burning stoves. This is yet another aid consignment that Russia sent to Kosovo Serbs, as this cooperation is on for 12 years already, Bogdanovic recalled. He announced that Russia will soon send another aid package including medical equipment and material for hospitals in the Serb-populated areas. Ambassador Konuzin said that Nis will be the seat of the Serbian-Russian humanitarian center, stressing that its establishment was arranged in October during the visit by Russia's Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu. Konuzin said that a large number of countries is interested in cooperation with this center, and announced that Belgrade will soon host a conference on this issue. He announced that the Serbian-Russian humanitarian center in Nis will start to operate fully in March or April 2012. Konuzin and Bogdanovic in Nis on Thursday (Tanjug) "Not patriotic" Bogdanovic and Konuzin also addressed the issue of some 20,000 Serbs who reportedly asked to be given Russian citizenship. "The issue of humanitarian aid was agreed on with Minister Bogdanovic several weeks ago. There's no need to politicize this problem, because it could place people in Kosovo in an even more difficult position. In my opinion, the desire of these people to be given citizenship must be approached in a delicate manner," said the ambassador. Konuzin did not wish to further comment on the Serbs' applications, nor on some Russian officials' position that they should be given Russian passports, adding only that there were laws and exact procedures that would be adhered to in this case. However, neither Konuzin nor Bogdanovic denied that the number of Serbs from Kosovo who wish to become Russian citizens has in the meantime grown to 70,000. But Bogdanovic criticized them: "It's well known that us Serbs from Kosovo are hardcore patriots. However, this request goes against patriotism. I understand the frustration of the people in Kosovo. They are unhappy with the way the international community has influenced securing their freedom of movement and security. However, this is not the way to defend our interests in Kosovo." Both officials agreed that the citizenship applications came "exclusively as a result of the security situation in Kosovo". Meantime, the humanitarian aid shipment that arrived in Nis today will also be stored there for the time being, to be delivered to the province "via alternative roads next week", said Bogdanovic. Another shipment of aid from Russia containing medical supplies is also expected soon, it has been announced.

Serbs in Kosovo to receive 35 tons of aid from Russia

The humanitarian aid comprises food products, including eight tons of sugar and canned food, and wood-burning stoves.

This is yet another aid consignment that Russia sent to Kosovo Serbs, as this cooperation is on for 12 years already, Bogdanović recalled.

He announced that Russia will soon send another aid package including medical equipment and material for hospitals in the Serb-populated areas.

Ambassador Konuzin said that Niš will be the seat of the Serbian-Russian humanitarian center, stressing that its establishment was arranged in October during the visit by Russia's Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Konuzin said that a large number of countries is interested in cooperation with this center, and announced that Belgrade will soon host a conference on this issue.

He announced that the Serbian-Russian humanitarian center in Niš will start to operate fully in March or April 2012.

"Not patriotic"

Bogdanović and Konuzin also addressed the issue of some 20,000 Serbs who reportedly asked to be given Russian citizenship.

"The issue of humanitarian aid was agreed on with Minister Bogdanović several weeks ago. There's no need to politicize this problem, because it could place people in Kosovo in an even more difficult position. In my opinion, the desire of these people to be given citizenship must be approached in a delicate manner," said the ambassador.

Konuzin did not wish to further comment on the Serbs' applications, nor on some Russian officials' position that they should be given Russian passports, adding only that there were laws and exact procedures that would be adhered to in this case.

However, neither Konuzin nor Bogdanović denied that the number of Serbs from Kosovo who wish to become Russian citizens has in the meantime grown to 70,000.

But Bogdanović criticized them:

"It's well known that us Serbs from Kosovo are hardcore patriots. However, this request goes against patriotism. I understand the frustration of the people in Kosovo. They are unhappy with the way the international community has influenced securing their freedom of movement and security. However, this is not the way to defend our interests in Kosovo."

Both officials agreed that the citizenship applications came "exclusively as a result of the security situation in Kosovo".

Meantime, the humanitarian aid shipment that arrived in Niš today will also be stored there for the time being, to be delivered to the province "via alternative roads next week", said Bogdanović.

Another shipment of aid from Russia containing medical supplies is also expected soon, it has been announced.