MOSCOW, September 30. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will come to the Serbian capital on October 16 to attend celebrations on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Belgrade’s liberation from Nazi invaders, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told reporters on Tuesday after a meeting with Russian Ambassador Alexander Chepurin.
Details of Putin’s forthcoming visit at the invitation of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic were discussed at the meeting.
The Russian leader is expected to have talks with Nikolic and Vucic to debate key issues of bilateral co-operation, primarily in trade and economic sphere, the Russian presidential press service said.
“President Putin will also attend a military parade which we had not staged for more than 40 years, because I believe that the date and the occasion deserve this,” the prime minister said. He noted that the fight against fascism was what Serbian citizens were proud of.
The programme of the visit also envisages a joint dinner of Russian and Serbian delegations, Vucic said. During the visit the leaders of the two countries plan to discuss the future of bilateral relations which, in the view of the prime minister, “are good, but can be much better and more successful.” “We can do much together for the interests of Russia and Serbia,” he noted.
Belgrade was liberated by Soviet troops jointly with Yugoslav People’s Liberation Army in a total offensive operation of Soviet military forces that liberated that country from Nazi intruders and their allies in the Second World War years.