US vice-president visits Balkans
21/05/2009
US vice-president Joe Biden is hoping his tour of the Balkans will re-establish relationships with the region.
It is the highest profile visit by a US politician to Serbia for nearly 30 years and is a sign that president Barack Obama is keen to rebuild ties with the country.
Mr Biden is expected to spend time in Bosnia-Herzegovina before travelling to Serbia and Kosovo.
Serbian political commentator Ljiljana Smilovic explained to the BBC that Mr Biden is likely to get a mixed reaction from Serbians.
She said: "The opposition will be impressed, even the anti-American public is going to be impressed.
"But at the same time, it carries a slight risk for the government because it will be seen as being too cosy with someone who is really perceived as an enemy of the Serbs."
The last visit by a top ranking US figure was by former president Jimmy Carter in 1980.
