Russian emergencies minister heads to Balkans

Russian Emergencies Ministry Sergei Shoigu is heading to Serbia on Monday to oversee the signing of a number of deals intended to boost Russia's humanitarian and economic cooperation with the Balkan state, the ministry spokesman said. On Monday, Shoigu and Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic will take part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Russian-Serbian humanitarian center in the south-eastern city of Nis. Several humanitarian cooperation agreements are expected to be signed during the visit. On Tuesday, the Russian minister will meet with Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic in Belgrade. The Serbian capital will also host a regular meeting of the Russian-Serbian trade, economic and scientific cooperation committee on the same day. Agreements on "large investment projects" in the gas, oil and infrastructure spheres, as well as on the supply of hi-tech equipment from Russia to Serbia and future liberalization of bilateral trade within the Russian-Serbian free trade zone agreement, are expected to be signed after the talks, the spokesman said. On Wednesday, Shoigu will visit Montenegro for talks with Foreign Minister Milan Rocen. After the talks, the ministers will take part in a regular meeting of the Russian-Montenegrin inter-government trade, economic and scientific cooperation committee, which they co-chair.