Serbia Invites Russian Official to Balkan Trumpet Party

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Thursday that Maria Zakharova will visit the famous festival in the village of Guca, where participants consume huge amounts of grilled meat and strong alcohol and go wild to the sound of Serbian brass bands.

Beta news agency reported that Zakharova will have several bilateral consultations with officials on Friday, and after that she will go to the festival in southern Serbia, which starts on Thursday and runs until August 12. 

The invitation delighted some Serbian media, with Kurir newspaper reporting that "Putin's Masha is coming to Guca" - a reference to a Russian cartoon that is very popular in Serbia, 'Masha and the Bear'.

The Serbian foreign minister is known for his friendly relations with Zakharova.

In December 2016, Dacic gave Zakharova an item of female clothing from the traditional Serbian national costume, a jelek, while in March 2017, he sent her flowers and gloves. 

Zakharova posted a photo on Facebook of her wearing the jelek, and jokingly noted that the garment had no top button.

"But no one who knows Dacic is surprised. By the way, Ivica [Dacic], when you managed to take my measurements, I was always very vigilant?!" Zakharova wrote.

Dacic meanwhile has praised Zakharova, saying in March that she "vigorously fights for the interests of Serbia, especially in defence of Kosovo and Metohija". 

"And we are very grateful to her for that," Dacic added, Serbian daily newspaper Vecernje novosti reported at the time.

The visit to Guca was confirmed at a Wednesday meeting between Dacic and the Russian ambassador to Belgrade, Aleksandar Cepurin. 

Dacic and Cepurin also talked about an upcoming visit by...