Photo: AP
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, announced that he will visit Moscow to attend the commemoration of the Day of Victory over Fascism in Russia on May 9. What consequences will this act have on Serbia and why did this act happen?
The Government of Serbia adopted the Decision on the formation of the Working Group to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Second World War, which Serbia and Russia should mark together. Its task, as stated in the announcement, is the joint commemoration of Serbia and the Russian Federation on May 9, in commemoration of the day when, in 1945, Nazi Germany signed the capitulation in The Second World War, reports FoNet.
President Vučić he declared that he would go to Russia even if "the sky falls on his head", alluding to the countries' warnings Of the European Union that his departure is unacceptable.
"This is not how diplomacy or foreign policy is conducted," foreign policy commentator Boško Jakšić explains to "Vreme".
"It is a completely undiplomatic decision, considering the time of the moment in which it was made," explains Jaksic, referring to Vucic's departure to Russia and adds that because of the wars in Ukraine, the West and Russia celebrate Victory Day completely separately.
"Deciding on Moscow, where Putin invited 19 so-called 'friendly countries', is a direct manifestation of siding with Russia and against the West, which is politically very short-sighted in times when aggression in Ukraine is still ongoing, bearing in mind that it is a country that does not aspire to join an alliance with Russia and Belarus, but rather join the European Union," says Jakšić.
What else could he do?
Given the situation of choosing between the West and Russia, the decision of what could be done was not so black and white.
According to Jakšić, Vučić had a much smarter option in that situation - to celebrate Victory Day in Belgrade.
"He didn't do that because he was driven more by the desire to see Putin than to celebrate Victory Day in Belgrade, because if any country in Europe has a fully legitimate right to celebrate Victory Day on its own, then it is here, because the former Yugoslavia won its freedom on its own," explains Jakšić.
According to him, the president of Serbia had all the political reasons to stay in Serbia, which would avoid resentment from both sides, both Russia and the West, but the desire to show cordiality with Moscow and, as he says, to meet the Chinese president there prevailed.
"I think the cynical climax would be if Kim Jong Un is also there - then we have completed the story," concludes Jakšić.
Warnings and potential penalties
Speaking about the announced visit of Vučić to Russia, Jakšić reminded that warnings were sent to the president by Brussels a long time ago, stressing that such an act can be very harmful.
He says that there is also mention of the complete halting of the integration process, due to such a "defiant act".
"Then we are in a very ungrateful situation," says Jakšić.
He explained that for any punishment of Serbia, in the form of sanctions, introduction of visas and the like, the price is paid by the people.
"An individual named Aleksandar Vučić is directly responsible for such a decision," says Jakšić, and looking back on the times of Slobodan Milošević and the sanctions that were implemented because of him, he reminded that the people bore the burden of his consequences.
"So, if the Europeans decide on some sanctions, they would have to think carefully about not punishing the citizens of Serbia, but the one who is most responsible for such an undiplomatic and defiant decision that was not necessary," concluded Jakšić.
His prediction is that there is a greater possibility that everything will end on rhetorical warnings, although everything will remain written down somewhere.
Neighbors' attitude and students' actions
Jakšić explained that Serbia has not had such bad relations with its neighbors for years, and added that these relations are the result of the tightening policy with Croatia, Zagreb, Sarajevo and Podgorica.
"Of course, this will further affect relations with the neighbors and unfortunately even the students who ran in Varaždin cannot repair all the damage that Vučić is able to cause," says Jakšić and adds that President Vučić's visit to Russia "is an absolutely unnecessary aggravation and introduction of tensions into the relations between Serbia and the West and between Serbia and the region."
Students are collecting funds for extraordinary elections with the "Buna Park" action, and citizens are protesting in front of the REC building. During that time, Chetnik songs are played from Pionirski Park
Students in the blockade of the ETF will distribute a pamphlet at public gatherings in Serbia for all "those who listen but don't see, look but don't hear", at the same time calling for a protest on June 28
In Belgrade, the first protest began in front of the Faculty of Law, and the second was announced for 18.30:XNUMX p.m. in front of the RIK building because "The circus must stop", at the same time as "Preparation for Vidovdan" in Sremski Karlovci.
According to the recipe before every big protest organized by students, the regime media and their guests before Vidovdan launched a new campaign of intimidation of citizens
The President of Serbia is proposing amendments to the Constitution that would protect citizens from forced eviction from their own homes during enforcement proceedings
Can the students and the opposition make up for 51 votes in the repeated elections at polling station number 25 in Kosjerić? Is it an impossible mission or another attempt that changes everything
The Serbian Government elected the commander of the "White Eagles", Dragoslav Bokan, as the president of the Board of Directors of the National Theater. Why not read "Aco Serbs" instead of "Your hands are bloody"?
What will Vučić do when his second presidential term expires in 2027. The Constitution does not provide for a third. Maybe he won't go into political retirement
The archive of the weekly Vreme includes all our digital editions, since the very beginning of our work. All issues can be downloaded in PDF format, by purchasing the digital edition, or you can read all available texts from the selected issue.
See all
