Russia’s Future Logistical Center In Serbia Might Pose Problems For Romania - U.S. Think Tank

Russia will set up a “humanitarian” logistical center in Serbia to prevent natural disasters and technological catastrophes, but the center might pose problems for Romania or Bulgaria by requesting over flight permission to resupply the center, U.S. Jamestown Foundation reported on its website.

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Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic signed an agreement with potential military implications, which envisages the establishment of a logistical center near the city of Nis, in southeastern Serbia, for response to natural and technological catastrophes.

Russia and Serbia want this logistical center to develop into a large operation and serve the entire Balkan region in order to prevent natural disasters and their consequences, U.S. research institution Jamestown Foundation reported.

The future center in Serbia probably is the most significant outcome of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Serbia on October 20.

The intention to set up the center stands higher chances to materialize compared with the Serbian section of Gazprom's South Stream project, which also led to an agreement also signed during Medvedev's visit. Serbia's government continues to reward Russia's support for Belgrade on Kosovo, according to Jamestown Foundation.

In a crisis situation, Russia might pose problems for Romania, Bulgaria, or some other country by requesting over flight permission to resupply or reinforce the Nis center. A similar situation occurred in 1999 when Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary turned down Moscow's request of over flight permission for Russian planes to resupply Serbia.

Jamestown Foundation also said Serbia's "bizarre" agreement with Russia is the first of this kind. Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry is a fully militarized ministry and the agreement opens the door for Russian military personnel, helicopters, and dual-purpose supplies to be forward-deployed in Serbia on a long-term basis, using the airfield near Nis.

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