PM Vucic starts official visit to United States

Aleksandar Vucic has started his official visit to the United States where he will be until June 4. Vucic was invited by U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden.
Source: B92, Tanjug Tuesday, June 2, 2015 | 09:53

Tweet

(Beta/AP, file)

Immediately upon his arrival in Washington, the prime minister told the Serbian state broadcaster RTS that this visit was "very important for our country and that he was happy that to have a full schedule," and added:
''U.S. investors do not think about continuing their investments in one country, or their arrival there, unless there is political stability and unless it is also approved by the policy of the United States."

He added that "this is primarily about cooperation with three IT sector related companies," and listed them as General Electric, Microsoft, and NCR.

As previously announced, Vucic will discuss with Biden and other U.S. officials bilateral relations, economic cooperation and Washington's support for Serbia's European path.

The Serbian government has announced that Vucic will on the first day of his official visit meet representatives of major U.S. companies such as General Electric, Microsoft, NCR, followed by a planned meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and later with representatives of the Serbian diaspora.

During the second day of his visit, he is scheduled to meet Biden at the White House.

Earlier, the news that Biden's eldest son had died cause doubt about whether this meeting will take place. Vucic will also speak with Senator John McCain.

This will be followed by meetings with Serbian Caucus co-chairs Congressman Ted Poe and Emanuel Cleaver, as well as with the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Europe, Senator Ron Johnson.

On Thursday, Vucic will visit the Johns Hopkins University, where he speak, and then resume a series of meetings with members of the Committee and the Subcommittee on Foreign Relations of the U.S. Senate.

The director of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM) Milan Antonijevic said that the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to the U.S. was positive.

In addition, the Moscow daily Kommersant wrote that the visit could lead to a shift in the foreign policy of Belgrade.

However, Advisor to the President of Serbia and former Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic said that Vucic will with the visit strengthen relations with Washington, but that the trip and the latest developments in connection with gas are not moving Serbia away from Russia.