International Studies Review - Issue 19 vol 6 alb | Page 9

Moscow ' s efforts to conect Belgrade even more with Russia. This effort goes beyond military cooperation and deliveries of the Russian natural gas. It states that Moscow is engaged in ' public diplomacy with a clear Pan-Slavic rhetoric " and has high respect among the Serb population, because of its approach to the Kosovo issue. From this we can confirm that Russia ' s foothold in the Balkan is and remains Serbia. Russia and Serbia are Orthodox countries, and this has affected their traditionally reports giving Russia the role of a '' father ''. Russia historically has imposed huge political influence in Serbia. Moscow strongly supports the Serbian opposition toward the independence of Kosovo using every lobbing tool against its diplomacy and on the other hand, continues to use Kosovo independence to justify its actions in Crimea, in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Serbia is the only country in Europe that has a free trade agreement with Russia.
Russian- Serbian military relations are also very close. Russia signed an agreement with Serbia to allow Russian soldiers to be deployed at the airport in Nis, which is used by Serbia with the aim of Russia ' s commitment in case of unrest in northern Kosovo 7. Serbia has the observer status in the Treaty of Collective Security Treaty Organization- Russia and NATO. Serbia and Russia also signed a 15-year military cooperation agreement that includes sharing intelligence, exchange of military officers and joint military exercises.
Besides strong influence, Russia has extended its powerful influence in the economy, infrastructure, electricity, property, tourism and some loans given to the governments of Balkan countries. Russia has offered Serbia billion of funding over the last years. Also, Russia has financed the renovation of the railway networt of hundred of kilometers. Also Russian multinational oil company Lukoil, now owns 79.5 % of Beopetrol local rail services, while Russian gas company Gazprom owns the majority of the main suppliers of gas to the country 8. In Montenegro, Russia is the main foreign investor, where the Russians already control a third of all companies in the country. The Kremlin also signed energy agreements and fund loans with Republika Srpska, the ethnic Serb entity in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Moska has managed to maintain good diplomatic relations with several local oligarchs, especially in Bulgaria. The entire Russian
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The russian risk in Balkan and Kosovars exile; Rafael Floqi http:// illyriapress. com / rreziku-rus-ne-ballkan-dhemergimi-i-kosovareve /
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Putinology and the risk of Russian expasion in Balkan http:// eurospeak. al / speciale / 264-putinologjia-dhe-rreziku-iekspansionit-te-rusise-ne-ballkan
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