Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, stated that the Balkan peoples will not allow the West to turn them against each other and expressed concern about the situation concerning the Serb people.
He emphasized that such a policy continues not only towards Serbia but also towards Republika Srpska and everyone who considers their own interests and wishes to preserve their dignity.
“While I was working as Russia’s permanent representative to the UN in New York, I traveled to BiH, Serb Krajina, Croatia, and Belgrade, and I saw everything they did to Belgrade. Now, the same people claim that the war in Ukraine is the first war in Europe, while there was no such war in Europe in 1999. I remember how the American and English media expressed themselves at that time – many front pages were filled with statements that the repentance of Serb would cleanse the Serb people,” said Lavrov.
He mentioned that Western countries encourage certain ethnic groups in the Balkans while adopting an aggressive, dictatorial stance against others, demanding their involvement in sanctions against Russia while it is not too late.
“The West’s interest was to destroy Yugoslavia. No one in the Balkans needed such a united force. The West has always wanted to turn one nation against another in the Balkans, and today it continues to do so successfully. However, I am confident that the Balkan peoples, throughout their long, difficult, but glorious history, have developed a genetic code within themselves and, in the end, will not allow insults or Western colleagues to continually turn one country against another, one nation against another,” Lavrov emphasized.
He noted that the situation regarding Belgrade and Pristina fits into the trend observed within the OSCE – first, an agreement is reached, then the outcome is celebrated, followed by a process of sabotage.
Lavrov highlighted a significant number of agreements reached under the OSCE’s auspices that the West methodically undermined.
“Regarding Serbia and self-proclaimed Kosovo, I remember how the EU, as a major mediator, ceremonially announced in 2013, ten years ago, that an agreement had been reached on the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities,” Lavrov said at a press conference in Skopje.
However, he stressed that nothing had happened since then, and the individuals appointed in Pristina to manage that Serbian area categorically refuse to implement that agreement.
“And what does the EU do – do you think they demand proper behavior from them? No, they demand that Serbia change its stance. Moreover, a new document on the creation of the Community of Serb Municipalities has been drafted, significantly differing from what Belgrade and Pristina agreed upon ten years ago. It is reminiscent of many agreements reached under the auspices of the OSCE,” Lavrov remarked.
Regarding Serbia’s EU membership, Lavrov mentioned that Brussels continuously conditions Belgrade by stating that new chapters will not be opened until Serbia aligns its foreign policy views with Brussels, including the issue of imposing sanctions against Russia.
“That’s the power of persuasion of the EU. They say they won’t accept you into the EU until you recognize the so-called Kosovo. Or maybe you don’t have to recognize the so-called Kosovo, but then at least allow Pristina to join international organizations. Are you serious?” Lavrov questioned.
