Russia is closely monitoring the situation in Kosovo, where the Serb minority has been blocking roads for more than two weeks, and maintains its support for Serbia, the spokesman for the Russian presidency (Kremlin) said today.
“We have close ties [com origem em] alliances, historical and spiritual ties with Serbia. Russia is very attentive to what is happening and how the rights of the Serbs are fulfilled,” Dmitri Peskov said at a press conference.
Peskov stressed that Moscow “supports Belgrade in the measures it takes” and criticized Pristina’s accusations about Russia’s “destructive influence” in this conflict.
“Serbia is a sovereign country. It is completely wrong to see here any kind of destructive influence from Russia. It is natural for Serbia to defend the rights of Serbs living in such difficult conditions. And to react strongly when these rights are violated.” the Kremlin spokesman said.
The situation in Kosovo has deteriorated since the beginning of December, after a sharp increase in tension between the Serb community and the Albanian majority, with the fencing forces in Pristina and Belgrade in a situation that raises fears of a new conflict.
Last Monday, and in an unprecedented move in recent years, the Serbian army was placed on high alert following the recent rise in tension in Kosovo, with shots fired into the air, stun grenade explosions and barricades.
The decision was made by the Serbian president, after an order of “high level of combat readiness” and with the chief of the General Staff, General Milan Mojsilovic, being sent to the border with Kosovo.
The Serbian president accused Pristina of restricting the rights of the Kosovo Serb population, of violating the agreements reached and of wanting the Serb population to leave Kosovo permanently, an accusation that has also justified the growing militarization of the region by the two forces present.
Last November, 600 Kosovar Serb members of the police and administration resigned in protest of Pristina’s plans to ban vehicles with Serb number plates, creating a power vacuum in the region.
In Belgrade the National Security Council met and President Aleksandar Vucic demanded the release of all Serbs arbitrarily detained by the Kosovar police, another reason for the protests. At the same time, he urged the population to avoid clashes with the NATO contingent stationed in Kosovo, the Kfor, which has about 4,000 troops, or with the police forces included in the European Union mission (Eulex).
The conflict over the recruitment ended up escalating, and the Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, announced, for his part, that he will request a meeting with the commander of the Kfor mission, who advocates a negotiated solution to the current crisis.
The international community demands that the Serbs remove the barricades, which according to Pristina were erected by “criminal gangs instructed by Belgrade.”
The former Serbian province of Kosovo, populated by a large Albanian majority, declared its independence in 2008 but has never been recognized by Serbia.
Serbia continues to consider Kosovo as an integral part of its territory and Belgrade benefits from the support of Russia and China, which like dozens of other countries (including India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia) have not recognized Kosovo’s independence either.
Source: TSF
