Congresswoman's Protest Casts Shadow over Vucic US Visit

Eddie Bernice Johnson, member of the US Congress urged Vice President Mike Pence not to meet Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vucic, citing Belgrade's relations with Russia and Iran, its failure to resolve the murder of the Bytyqi brothers and the alleged business dealings of Vucic's brother, Andrej.

In a letter obtained by BIRN, Democrat Congresswomen, noted Serbia's relations with Moscow, including military ties and agreements on gas projects, Andrej Vucic's business dealings, Serbia's relations with Iran and the lack of progress in prosecution of those responsible for the killings of US citizens in 1999, known as the Bytyqi case.

Johnson's office confirmed the authenticity of the letter to BIRN.

The Vucic-Pence meeting went ahead as planned on July 17, however, after which the White House issued a statement that did not mention any of the issues raised by Johnson.

Instead, the statement said the two discussed Serbia's EU integration and reforms, relations with Kosovo, funds for people displaced during the wars of the Nineties as well as Pence's upcoming visit to Montenegro.

However, after meeting Pence, Vucic told the media that the two did talk about Serbia's relations to Russia as well.

The White House Press Office and Serbian President Office did not respond to queries from BIRN about Johnson's letter and the issues it raised by the time of publication.

Johnson, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Bosnia, said Serbian links to Russia in the military, business and energy fields had undermined regional stability in the Balkans, while "further backsliding on democratic values and Euro-Atlantic integration have occurred".

One issue was Serbia's military cooperation with Russia, both through military exercises and...

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