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Putin praises intense cultural ties between Moscow and Belgrade

Russia and Serbia have reached a "landmark accord" on return of cultural values, Putin said
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, and Patriarch Irinej of Serbia (L-R) visit the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade Mikhail Metzel/TASS
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, and Patriarch Irinej of Serbia (L-R) visit the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade
© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

BELGRADE, January 18. /TASS/. During his visit to Serbia on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke highly of cultural and humanitarian links that connect Moscow and Belgrade.

Following his talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Putin announced that Russia and Serbia have come to a "landmark accord" on the return of Page 166 of the Miroslav Gospels (the earliest preserved Serbian illustrated manuscript dated 1180) to Serbia, and the return of paintings by Russian artist Nicholas Roerich, believed to had been lost during World War II, to Russia.

"Mr. President [Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic] and I agreed that culture ministries of the two states will work on issues related to carrying out this exchange," Putin said.

Putin also described cultural cooperation between the two states as "intense."

"Serbia regularly hosts tours of Russian musicians and bands, as well as cultural festivals. Major public events will begin in February as part of the Days of Russian Spiritual Culture. The project of decorating the interior of the Church of St. Sava in Belgrade is being successfully implemented," the Russian president said.

He vowed that Russia would keep assisting Serbia in training highly-skilled national professionals, adding that "during the present academic year, 120 educational grants have been reserved for Serbian students."

Meeting with Kusturica

During his visit to Belgrade, Putin also met with renowned Serbian filmmaker, actor and musician, Emir Kusturica.

Commenting on the meeting, Kusturica said he received "an important opportunity" to inform the Russian president about his cultural activities, aimed at developing relations between the two states.

"I shared my idea of independent united Serbia with President Putin," he told reporters after the meeting. "Also, I paid special attention to the situation in Republika Srpska [an administrative entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina], where local population is subjected to pressure from politicians and is sometimes deprived of a chance to establish relations with Russia, which are, in my opinion, necessary."

Kusturica said he planned to hold several concerts with Russia this spring.