Serbia updates

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Vladimir Putin will use a trip to Serbia on Thursday to emphasize Russia’s close ties with the Balkans as Belgrade’s ties with Western Europe are sour.

The Russian President will convey the message that the US and other Western countries are a “destabilizing” force trying to strengthen “their hegemony” in the Balkans.

During the one-day visit, Mr. Putin will present Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic with one of the highest civilian awards in Russia, which, according to the Kremlin, reflects “Mr. Vucic’s great personal contribution to the development of multilateral cooperation with the Russian Federation”. . The Alexander Nevsky Order was previously awarded to the leaders of close Russian allies such as Belarus, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

Mr. Vucic told the Russian news agency TASS that his father “cried” when he heard of the award.

On Wednesday, Putin told two Serbian government-affiliated newspapers that negotiations to conclude a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union through Belgrade were ongoing by the end of the year. He also highlighted the historical ties between Russia and Serbia linked by the Orthodox faith.

But he added: “Unlike Western partners, we are not trying to make Serbia an artificial choice: either you are with Russia or you are with the EU”.

Mr Putin continued to criticize the West for getting the Western Balkans firmly into orbit. He said that Montenegro was admitted to NATO in 2017 without a referendum without a referendum because “half the population” objected, and that Macedonia was moving closer to NATO because of a referendum on changing the country’s name, which was well below 50 percent got cents turnout and “ignored the will of the people”.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meanwhile accused the EU of a “colonial stance” towards Serbia and called this an “obsolete” mentality.

Lavrov said the EU’s treatment of Serbia was “disrespectful” to Russia, comparing this to the bloc’s stance on Ukraine prior to Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea.

Serbia’s Parliament building in Belgrade

Moscow has repeatedly blamed the EU for fueling anti-Russian protests in Kiev, which led to violent clashes and the removal of its pro-Kremlin president.

“It is not polite to take such an approach,” added Mr Lavrov.

Serbia has tried more than any other Balkan country to maintain good relations with both Russia and the West. Belgrade chose not to follow the EU when it imposed sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s deterioration in relations with the US and Europe since the invasion of Crimea has led the Kremlin to strengthen its alliances outside NATO and the EU and make new friends, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, in order to continue to act as a global one Superpower.

Russia remains popular with Serbs because it refuses to recognize the 2008 declaration of independence by Kosovo, the former Serbian province. Moscow has also given Serbia high-profile gifts, including mosaics for the Cathedral of Sveti Sava, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.

Serbian media reported on Wednesday that the country’s secret service had averted an attack on Putin. A suspected terrorist was arrested and weapons and bomb-making equipment were found in his home.

world
March 30, 2021 – 08:18

China has pledged to invest $ 400 billion in Iran over the next 25 years.

The foreign ministers of the two countries, Wang Yi and Javad Zarif, signed an agreement on March 27, in Tehran.

Under the deal, Iran has offered steady oil supplies in exchange for Chinese investment.

“China strongly supports Iran in maintaining its state sovereignty and national dignity,” Wang said during a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rohani.

He also called on the United States to lift economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

China has become a lifeline for Iran’s economy, and ties between the two countries have warmed in recent years as both have gone through intensified diplomatic and economic confrontations with the West.

The administration of former US President Donald Trump has pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” on Tehran because of its nuclear and missile program.

Trump has pulled the US out of a nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, including China.

His successor, Joe Biden, is continuing with this harsh policy, but is also signaling a willingness to revive the nuclear deal.

While the Chinese deal with Iran is about advancing Beijing’s regional and global ambitions as a leading power, it also diminishes Washington’s efforts to keep Iran isolated and improves Beijing’s position ahead of any future negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

“China wants to show that it’s essential to solving some of the world’s most acute problems,” Daniel Markey, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and author of The China Horizon, told Radio Free Europe.

“Beijing tries to portray itself as an equal mediator, while portraying the US as the most problematic global player,” he said.

You can read the full article HERE.

The mayor of Kllokot, Bozidar Dejanovic, was arrested today on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of “Violation of the free determination of voters”.

Through a press release, the Prosecution has announced that the suspect has been taken into custody for 48 hours.

Full notice:

The Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo announces the public opinion that today it has executed the order of the pre-trial judge for the control of the premises of the Municipality of Kllokot in connection with an investigation that is underway against the Mayor, the defendant Bozidar Dejanovic, on suspicion that has committed the criminal offense “Violation of the free determination of voters”, provided and sanctioned by Article 210 of Code no. 06 / L-074 Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo (hereinafter KPRK).

On this basis, with the decision of the prosecutor of the case, it was decided to detain and arrest the defendant, Bozidar Dejanovic, for 48 hours and within the legal deadline he will appear before the pre-trial judge.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, has reacted to the statements of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which considers the Albanian nationalist parties, saying that they are not surprised by their statements against Kosovo, but considers that all Albanian parties in Kosovo are oriented to clearly pro-Western and Euro-Atlantic.

MPKD in a statement to the media says that last week, the Republic of Kosovo marked the 13th anniversary of its independence.

“Although Russia has been involved in the process of resolving the status of Kosovo together with 5 other countries of the Contact Group, in the end it broke the consensus by threatening with VETO any resolution in the UN Security Council that would enable the creation of the state of Kosovo. . In 2010 Russia again came out against the opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo’s independence, although Serbia, with Russia’s support, had insisted through the UN General Assembly for an opinion from the ICJ. From the beginning of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, through its actions Russia has always tried to prevent reaching an agreement. Construction of a “humanitarian” base in Nis near Kosovo, launch of a Russian-sponsored train to enter Kosovo by force, organization of incidents in the north of the country by Russian UN members in Kosovo, Russian sponsorships to produce “Fake news” in Kosovo and the region, serious commitments of Russian diplomacy to condition states and certain leaders to ‘withdraw the recognition of Kosovo’, as well as many other public and non-public actions in various international forums, clearly show the tendency Russian disruptors to obstruct the reconciliation process and disrupt peace in the region. “In this way, Russia intends to undermine Western influence and impose it on Russia,” the statement said, adding that for its own interests, Russia has tried to use the Kosovo case to compare it to other cases in the world, such as Georgia and Ukraine and other crises in the Caucasus and elsewhere, but in each case has failed.

“Kosovo’s independence has come as a result of a process, which has gone through all levels of the international system. The legitimacy of the state of Kosovo has received the unanimous assessment of the ICJ, that this process has been done in accordance with international law. It is recognized by 117 independent states. As a young and democratic state, Kosovo during these 13 years has proven to be a responsible and serious country, which continuously aims to advance good neighborly, regional and wider relations. Days ago, Kosovo held its extraordinary elections. Although in pandemic circumstances, with the election process of February 14, the institutions and the people of Kosovo proved that they share European democratic values, where the law and the word of the people are valued and respected. These elections were a model for the region and perhaps for many Western countries as well. Despite the democratic political changes, Kosovo enjoys a broad consensus on a commitment to dialogue for mutual recognition with Serbia, on defined principles of respect for territorial integrity, constitutional order, and its unitary character, in a framed time frame, and with a defined epilogue. “Mutual recognition as the only solution that guarantees stability and lasting peace in the region,” the statement said.

The Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo has filed an indictment in the Basic Court in Prishtina – Special Department, against the defendants with initials BR, IB, ME, and LL, for various criminal offenses.

The Special Prosecution Office notifies that the indictment was filed because the well-founded suspicion was proved that the defendant BR committed the criminal offenses “Exercising influence” under Article 431 paragraph 1 of the CCRK, “Abuse of official position or authority” by Article 414 paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 77 of the CCRK and “Money Laundering” in Article 308 of the CCRK, in conjunction with Article 56 paragraph 1 under paragraph 1.1 of the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism.

Whereas for the defendants IB, LL and ME, the well-founded suspicion was confirmed that in cooperation they committed the criminal offense, “Abuse of official duty or authority” from Article 422 paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 31 of the CCRK.

In the indictment, it is also proposed the confiscation of property, ie cars of the type “Audi” F2 S7 Sportback, black color, year of production 2019 ‘, which during the investigation phase turned out to be property acquired through criminal offense by the defendant BR