Before visiting Serbia this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States and some European countries of fueling east-west tensions in the Balkans.
In an interview with the Serbian Beta News Agency on February 19, Lavrov claimed that the nations he called “anti-Russian” are pushing the Balkans to choose “with the West or with Russia” – and the former to one To make a condition for accession the EU and NATO.
Lavrov, who is due to visit Serbia on February 21, told Serbian broadcaster N1 TV that any attempt to force the Balkans to vote is “very wrong” and that Russia intends to maintain its interests and relations with Serbia and its neighbors.
A new EU strategy for the Western Balkans states that Serbia and Montenegro could become members of the bloc by 2025 – a target date that Belgrade also welcomes.
While EU leaders have set strict conditions for accession – in particular for establishing the rule of law, guaranteeing fundamental rights and resolving regional territorial disputes – they have not promoted anti-Russian policies as a condition for membership.
Serbia in particular has continued to maintain close ties with Moscow and has declared that it will not join the EU’s economic sanctions against Russia because of its aggression in Ukraine.
Belgrade has not tried to join NATO – unlike Macedonia, which wants to join the military alliance, and Montenegro, which became a member in 2017.
Belgrade’s neutral military policy has not been openly rejected by US or European leaders.
However, Western countries have raised questions about Serbia establishing a joint Russian-Serbian humanitarian center in the southern city of Niš, which Western officials suspect Russia is hosting spies and spreading propaganda in the Balkans.
A US lawmaker who visited Serbia last year said to secure the flow of investment from the west, US officials were looking for “a clue” [Serbia] Really leans towards Western democracies and free market capitalism and, unfortunately, leans against the kind of aggression that is out there [Russian President] Vladimir Putin is currently demonstrating with Russia. ”
Lavrov condemned what he called “hysteria” in the West about the humanitarian center, which currently only has four Russian citizens working there.
He claimed that “Washington and some European capitals are sending their envoys to the Balkans for this very purpose: do not be friends with Russia, reject joint interaction with Russia in all areas” and said that Western politics “lifted tensions reinforced in Europe “. “”
US and European officials have accused Russia of causing tension through actions such as military interference in Ukraine and efforts by Western governments to sow discord and meddle in elections in the West.
Lavrov also said Russia will oppose every step the EU takes to force Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosovo, a former province of Serbia.
Kosovo declared its independence in 2008 and is recognized by 116 other nations, including most of the EU.
Lavrov said Russia will continue to prevent Kosovo from being recognized by the United Nations until Belgrade and Pristina negotiate a compromise on sovereignty, as advocated by Serbian leaders.
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