Serbian president in Havana to present award to Fidel

By Progreso Weekly Last updated May 19, 2015

President Tomislav Nikolic of Serbia arrived in Havana Monday afternoon (May 18) to meet with President Raúl Castro “and carry out other activities,” according to the Cuban Foreign Ministry.

At José Martí Airport, Nikolic is accompanied by his wife, Dragica, in tan coat. To his right is an unidentified interpreter.

He and his wife Dragica (pronounced DRA-git-za) were welcomed to Cuba by Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra (in photo above greeting the Serbian president). They plan to be on the island until Wednesday (May 20). Mrs. Nikolic will visit the Ramón González Coro obstetrics hospital and donate equipment for babies. Later, at the school for children with special needs Sierra Maestra, she will donate laptop computers for the staff.

One of President Nikolic’s “other activities” is a meeting with Fidel Castro, to whom the visitor will present the Order of the Republic of Serbia “for outstanding achievements in the development and strengthening of friendly relations and cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Cuba.” The award was announced on May 12.

Tomislav Nikolic: "Serbia persistently and diligently is building its European path but cannot give up its old friendship toward Cuba and Russia." — Tomislav Nikolic: “Serbia persistently and diligently is building its European path but cannot give up its old friendship toward Cuba and Russia.”

Nikolic (Ni-KO-lich) also plans to visit the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and the Center of Molecular Immunology. With him is Serbia’s minister of Health, Dr. Zlatibor Loncar.

The Serbian president met with Raúl Castro in Moscow on May 8, when they both attended the ceremonies for Victory Day. In a statement at that time, Nikolic said that Serbia and Cuba “share similar libertarian feelings and a commitment to peace.”

“Serbia persistently and diligently is building its European path but cannot give up its old friendship toward Cuba and Russia,” Nikolic said, alluding to Serbia’s current efforts to join the European Union.

Nikolic with Raúl Castro on May 8 in Moscow.

“We are proud of our traditional friendship and want to continue to develop and deepen it,” the Serbian leader said. The last time the two presidents met was in January 2013, at the CELAC-European Union summit held in Santiago, Chile.

CELAC stands for Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

Nikolic’s ties with Cuba go back several years to the days when he, as a National Assembly deputy, headed the Parliamentary Group of Friendship with the Republic of Cuba (2009-2012).

Nikolic assumed the presidency of Serbia in May 2012, replacing Boris Tadic. He was 63 in February.