Yovanovic visiting Ivanov
Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic visited Moscow on a working visit. Yesterday he was received by the head of Russian diplomacy Igor Ivanov. But inviting one of Milosevic’s close associates to Russia does not at all mean a rapprochement between Moscow and Belgrade.

Jovanovic was invited to Moscow only after all the main opponents of Milosevic had visited here: the head of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic, the leader of the Serbian democratic opposition Vuk Draskovic and the leaders of the Kosovo Serbs Momcilo Trajkovic and Bishop Artemije. Thus, Moscow makes it clear: it will not ignore Belgrade, but it also does not intend to focus its Balkan policy on it.
The focus of yesterday's negotiations between Yovanovitch and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Economics Minister Andrei Shapovalyants was bilateral relations and Kosovo. Belgrade owes Moscow almost $300 million for gas and has no plans to pay it off yet. Russia has until now supplied gas on credit, realizing that without it the Serbian economy would simply grind to a halt. However, such concessions cannot continue indefinitely. In Moscow, Milosevic's envoy was hinted that he had to pay for gas.
Belgrade, judging by Yovanovitch’s statements, would prefer to pay with assurances of eternal friendship and readiness to join the Russian-Belarusian union. But Moscow is not happy with this. Moreover, the reasoning of the Belgrade authorities about brotherhood with Russia is not supported by a willingness to listen to Moscow’s recommendations on the currently key problem of the Balkans - Kosovo.
Ivanov and Yovanovitch tried yesterday not to advertise their differences on Kosovo and focused more on their coinciding positions. However, the differences here are noticeable. Russia, together with the West, insists on holding local elections in Kosovo this fall. She also supported the decision of the Kosovo Serbs to join the interim government of Kosovo under the auspices of the UN, since without interaction with the international community the Serbs will not defend their rights.
But this is exactly what Milosevic is strongly opposed to. The Belgrade authorities called the leaders of the Kosovo Serbs almost accomplices of Albanian terrorists. And one of Milosevic’s closest associates recently accused Igor Ivanov of “sycophancy” and compromising with the United States and actually called on Moscow to no longer defend the interests of Belgrade.
Moscow has long ceased to support the current Belgrade leadership. But Yugoslavia plays an important role in Russia’s Balkan strategy. As Igor Ivanov said yesterday, "we are interested in building long-term strategic relations with Yugoslavia." And the odious Milosevic regime will sooner or later be replaced by a democratic government.

GENNADY SYSOEV

Newspaper "Kommersant" No. 86 dated May 17, 2000, p. 10

Authors:

Gennady Sysoev