Putin goes to Serbia Wed to discuss energy, Libya, Kosovo

BELGRADE, March 23 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
leaves Ljubljana for Belgrade on Wednesday at the close of the Slovenia
leg of his Balkan tour.
The forthcoming talks are expected to focus not only on prospects for
cooperation in the field of energy but also on the situation concerning
Libya.
Yuri Ushakov, deputy chief of the Russian government staff, who is in
charge of foreign policy matters, has told journalists that the "Kosovo
issue" will be one of the main subjects of discussion at the upcoming
talks. "The fact that the Chairman of Government visits Serbia on March
23 will be also of significance, considering the Libyan factor," Ushakov
emphasized, recalling that "March 24, 1999, was the date of the start of
NATO aerial bombardment of Serbia".
Work to implement the South Stream gas pipeline project will be
another important item on the agenda of the Premier's visit to Serbia.
Ushakov said, "The elaboration of a feasibility study and cost analysis of
the Serbian section of the pipeline has been completed; a joint company is
at work. The share of Gazprom in the joint company is 51 percent and that
of Srbijagas -- 49 percent".
It is reported that the sides will also discuss matters concerning the
construction of a subterranean gas storage facility "Banat Yard", as well
as possibilities for joint construction of gas-fired central heating and
power plants in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Pancevo, and Nis. It is not ruled out
that the possibility of opening a branch of Gazprombank in Serbia will be
also touched upon during the dialogue.
Belgrade also intends to suggest paying for part of gas to be supplied
to it by Russia through the export of goods and services. This would make
it possible to reduce approximately by one-third Serbia's deficit in
bilateral trade turnover. The latter ran at $2,700 million in 2010, with
Serbia's trade deficit being $1,600 million.
"A sizeable package of documents" is being prepared for signature in
Belgrade: agreements between the two governments on scientific and
technical cooperation, on interaction in the field of tourism, on
international automobile transportation, as well as an agreement on the
founding of a Sogas Srbija insurance company -- a joint venture of
Srbijagas and Gazprom.
Ushakov pointed out that cooperation between the two countries is also
characterized by a quite good trade turnover. "In 2010, reciprocal trade
grew by 27 percent to run at $1,400 million," the government deputy chief
of staff added. Speaking of the nature of Russia-Serbia relations, Ushakov
referred to them as "exceptionally friendly and based on trust".
Putin's Wednesday visit to Belgrade is a second one: he first visited
Serbia in June 2001 in his capacity of President of the Russian Federation.
This time, the Premier is to meet with Serbian President Boris Tadic.
Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic will join in their talks later on. Putin is
also to meet with the leaders of political parties in Serbia's parliament
Narodna Skupstina Srbije (National Assembly).