Putin To Receive A Rock Star Welcome In Belgrade

With T-shirts, mugs and murals bearing his face, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to receive a rock star welcome on Thursday when he lands in Serbia, Moscow's key ally on the edge of Europe

Belgrade, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2019 ) :With T-shirts, mugs and murals bearing his face, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to receive a rock star welcome on Thursday when he lands in Serbia, Moscow's key ally on the edge of Europe.

Putin will be met with a welcome parade that weaves through the capital Belgrade and culminates at the massive Saint Sava church, one of Orthodox Christianity's largest houses of worship.

Although Serbia aspires to join the European Union, it has kept up close ties with Russia, a historical "Orthodox big brother" whose people also share Slavic origins.

But it "is more an emotional than a rational relationship", explained Serbian economic analyst Biljana Stepanovic in Belgrade.

According to a 2017 Serbian government survey, a quarter of the population believe that Russia is their country's top donor, while the same percentage says it is the EU.

In reality, 75 percent of donations come from the EU or its member states, while Russia doesn't even make the top nine.

The West also outpaces Russia in terms of direct investment and trade.

However, the affection for Moscow is fanned by its unyielding support on the emotive issue of Kosovo, a former Serbian province that broke away in a 1998-99 guerilla war.