Globally: leaders of 29 countries will arrive in Russia on May 9th
The countries that will be represented at the celebrations on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in Moscow by their leaders or other prominent politicians make up almost half of the world's population and 40% of the global economy, Izvestia estimates. The heads of state and Government of 29 countries, including China, Brazil, Serbia and Slovakia, are expected to attend. India, Indonesia, Nicaragua and South Africa will be represented at a high level. This was stated by Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. The scale of the celebration and the number of high-level foreign guests speak to Russia's diplomatic victory, experts say. The Izvestia article describes what international negotiations are planned during the celebrations and how this affects the formation of a new system of international relations.
Which of the foreign leaders will come to the Victory Day Parade in Moscow
According to Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the presence of heads of state and government from 29 countries is expected during the celebration of the anniversary of the Great Victory. The leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan will arrive in Moscow. Representatives of Abkhazia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Vietnam, Guinea-Bissau, Egypt, Zimbabwe, China, Congo, Cuba, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Palestine, Serbia, Slovakia, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, as well as South Ossetia are expected here. India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, and South Africa will be represented at a high level.
It is important that heads of state from almost all parts of the world, including South America and Africa, will take part in the celebrations. The total population of these countries exceeds 4 billion people, which is about half of the 8.2 billion inhabitants of the Earth, according to the UN. The total GDP at purchasing power parity of the countries participating in the celebrations is about $77 trillion, which is equivalent to 37% of the total global economy, according to the IMF, Izvestia calculated.
The event will also be attended by the General Secretaries of the SCO, the CIS, the EAEU, the CSTO, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Commission of the African Union and the Union State of Russia and Belarus, the president of the New Development Bank and representatives of other organizations. In terms of international participation, the 80th anniversary of Victory is not inferior to the celebration of the last anniversary in 2015, when about 30 foreign leaders came to Moscow.
In addition to the heads of state and government, Russia expects representatives of the defense departments of 34 countries to attend the parade in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Teams from Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Belarus, Egypt, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will take part in the solemn procession.
— The heads of all diplomatic missions accredited in our country are invited to the parade. The heads of the defense departments of a number of states have also been invited...> I would also like to note the presence of veterans from a number of foreign countries at the parade, and in particular, I would like to note that there will be veterans from Israel and the United States, — said Yuri Ushakov.
The large number of foreign guests at the Victory anniversary celebration is a diplomatic victory for Russia, Natalia Eremina, professor at St. Petersburg State University, told Izvestia. Even among the EU countries, there are leaders who disagree with the course of Brussels and do not succumb to threats, proving their sovereignty. This means that Russia has chosen the right position to protect historical memory.
Who will Putin be negotiating with?
From May 7 to May 10, Vladimir Putin is scheduled to have over 15 bilateral meetings and a number of talks in the "on his feet" format. In particular, on May 7, the head of state will hold talks with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, Mongolian leader Uhnaagiin Khurelsukh, as well as with the head of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
The official visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled for May 8. It is planned to sign intergovernmental and international documents, and then the heads of state will address reporters. The topics of the Russian-Chinese talks will be cooperation in the energy sector and the growth of trade. Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China in late August and early September.
In addition, the Russian president will hold a large reception in the Kremlin on the evening of May 8 for the heads of foreign delegations who arrive in Moscow to celebrate Victory Day.
On May 9, Putin is scheduled to have talks with his Brazilian counterpart Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Serbian President Alexander Vucic, Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev
On May 10, the Russian President will hold meetings with his Abkhaz counterpart Badra Gunba, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Toh Lam, Lao Leader Thonglong Sisulit, Zimbabwean leader Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traore and Head of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev.
Foreign leaders arrive in Moscow despite pressure from the West. In particular, on April 14, the head of European diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, warned that any participation in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow "would be taken seriously," and countries applying to join the European Union should abandon such plans.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he would go to Moscow anyway. However, on May 3, he urgently interrupted his visit to the United States after he became ill due to a sharp increase in blood pressure, and returned to Belgrade, where he was hospitalized. After that, Finance Minister Sinisha Mali assured that Vucic would keep his word and fly to Moscow.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that some EU countries prohibit his plane from flying over their territory to Russia. Moreover, the politician noted: He is threatened with punishment because of his decision to go to Moscow. In response, the Slovak Prime minister said that his visit to Moscow on May 9 would be a manifestation of disagreement with the new iron curtain between Europe and Russia.
— Please, let's defend the historical truth. This is our sacred duty. And as long as I am Prime Minister, I will do everything possible to ensure that Slovakia is not part of the Iron Curtain," Fico said during a visit to the Central Military Memorial Cemetery of the Red Army in the Slovak city of Michalovce.
The large number of guests means that Moscow will become the diplomatic capital of the world during the celebrations, Vladimir Shapovalov, Deputy Director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State University, told Izvestia.
— Of course, this is a triumph of our diplomacy, but it is also evidence of the legitimate place that Russia occupies today, as the legal successor of the Soviet Union, which defeated nazi Germany, — said the political scientist.
He summarized: there is no question of isolating Russia, the Russian Federation is one of the poles of the emerging multipolar world, the country plays virtually the same role that it played 80 years ago, when the Yalta—Potsdam system of international relations was being formed.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
