The spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Maria Zakharova highlighted that the situation in Kosovo is on the edge of the inter-ethnic conflict adding that the mediation efforts of the European Union to establish a dialogue have shown the impotence of Brussels, reports Sputnik.
According to Zakharova , the Russian side is carefully following the “dramatic development of events in Kosovo” underlining that the reason for the escalation of the situation in Kosovo was the intention of the self-proclaimed ‘authorities’ in Pristina to force the Serbs living in the province to replace their personal documents and license plates with Kosovo ones, starting from the September 1. In addition, Zakharova highlighted the importance of license plates for the freedom of movement.
“Despite the explosion of justified discontent among the Serbian people, warnings from Belgrade and the high risk of direct confrontation, the leaders of the Kosovo Albanians resolutely refused to change their plans,” recalls Zakharova.
On the contrary, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Belgrade soberly assesses the agreements reached and has no illusions.
“The comments of Serbian leadership circles about the agreement confirm that in Belgrade they soberly assess what has been achieved, emphasize the primary task of protecting the rights of compatriots in Kosovo and have no illusions about the chances of seeing the ‘evolution’ of pro-Albanian approaches from the West”, said Zakharova adding that this rightly points to other, still unresolved, important aspects of the position of Kosovo Serbs.
The achievement of a partial compromise on personal documents in a way have diminished tensions regarding the situation in Kosovo “which was gradually sliding towards a finding solution by force”, said Zakharova.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia noted that there is an open question of principle whether the West is ready to continue seriously taking into account the legitimate interests of Serbia when it comes to Kosovo. Zahkarova added that Kosovo gained “independence” as a result of NATO’s aggression against Yugoslavia in 1999 – ‘on the bayonets’ of those same Americans and their allies who bombed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
“Kosovo and Serbia are Europe”, is the answer from the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans added that the time has come to forget the “narrative that Kosovo is Serbia.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it should be reminded again that the legal basis for resolving the Kosovo problem, whether someone likes it or not, remains the UN Resolution 1244, which clearly defines the territorial integrity of Serbia
“In addition, it is inadmissible to devalue the key elements established during the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Above all, it is the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities as a mechanism for ensuring the rights of Serbs in the province”, is stated in the message of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.