Ambassador: Belgrade has Russia’s support, protection

BELGRADE Brussels has not met expectations regarding neutrality and a wish to find a solution for Kosovo with respect of Serbia’s interests, says Aleksandr Chepurin. “Serbia expected a positive attitude from the EU as a country that wants to become a member of the organization," the Russian ambassador said. Ambassador: Belgrade has Russia’s support, protection "I have not seen any positive wish to solve the problem with respect of Serbia’s interests. The important thing is that we have seen (EU High Representative Catherine) Ashton’s happy smile but I don’t think it is enough,” he told Tanjug. He said that the main interest in the negotiating process was to secure legal rights for Serbs in Kosovo. “This is not about somebody’s wish, this is Belgrade’s obligation to secure it so Serbs can live there now, in ten and 200 years and not to have the situation change drastically after the agreement,” Chepurin explained. When asked why Russia was not more actively involved in the dialogue, the ambassador said: “Nobody invited Russia to the negotiations and Russia’s position is clear in that aspect”. However, Chepurin stressed that Moscow was in constant contact with the Serbian leadership and that it was completely informed about all details of the negotiations. “As far as the Kosovo issue is concerned, our position is obvious and clear. We have been on Belgrade’s side since the beginning. Russia was the country thanks to which the (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244 was done and Russia adheres perfecly to the Resolution,” he noted. “Russia has not recognized Kosovo’s independence just like its close allies and this is a very important moment for Serbia that allows it to have the negotiations about Kosovo because it has support and protection of such a big state – the Russian Federation,” the Russian diplomat pointed out. “This should be perfectly clear,” Chepurin added. Commenting on statements of the ruling German CDU party that the normalization of the Belgrade-Pristina relations included Kosovo’s UN seat in the future, Chepurin said that Moscow strongly supported Serbia's stance that if it was unacceptable for Belgrade, “Moscow as a permanent UN Security Council member sees no point in theorizing about it.” Noting that Serbia wanted to join the EU and that Russia understood that Serbia was hoping to have some benefits, the Russian ambassador stressed that Moscow had no reason to agree or oppose it. “But what is very important for Russia is not to damage the relations with Russia with Serbia’s accession, meaning our interest is to preserve good, friendly relations. One should bear this in mind,” Chepurin pointed out. He added that Russia and Serbia were geopolitical allies and that this was not the case because they were both Slavic nations but because they had similar languages and the same religion and because Russia had always tried to help Serbia in difficult times and vice versa. Aleksandr Chepurin (Beta, file) Tanjug

Ambassador: Belgrade has Russia’s support, protection

"I have not seen any positive wish to solve the problem with respect of Serbia’s interests. The important thing is that we have seen (EU High Representative Catherine) Ashton’s happy smile but I don’t think it is enough,” he told Tanjug.

He said that the main interest in the negotiating process was to secure legal rights for Serbs in Kosovo.

“This is not about somebody’s wish, this is Belgrade’s obligation to secure it so Serbs can live there now, in ten and 200 years and not to have the situation change drastically after the agreement,” Chepurin explained.

When asked why Russia was not more actively involved in the dialogue, the ambassador said:

“Nobody invited Russia to the negotiations and Russia’s position is clear in that aspect”.

However, Chepurin stressed that Moscow was in constant contact with the Serbian leadership and that it was completely informed about all details of the negotiations.

“As far as the Kosovo issue is concerned, our position is obvious and clear. We have been on Belgrade’s side since the beginning. Russia was the country thanks to which the (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244 was done and Russia adheres perfecly to the Resolution,” he noted.

“Russia has not recognized Kosovo’s independence just like its close allies and this is a very important moment for Serbia that allows it to have the negotiations about Kosovo because it has support and protection of such a big state – the Russian Federation,” the Russian diplomat pointed out.

“This should be perfectly clear,” Chepurin added.

Commenting on statements of the ruling German CDU party that the normalization of the Belgrade-Priština relations included Kosovo’s UN seat in the future, Chepurin said that Moscow strongly supported Serbia's stance that if it was unacceptable for Belgrade, “Moscow as a permanent UN Security Council member sees no point in theorizing about it.”

Noting that Serbia wanted to join the EU and that Russia understood that Serbia was hoping to have some benefits, the Russian ambassador stressed that Moscow had no reason to agree or oppose it.

“But what is very important for Russia is not to damage the relations with Russia with Serbia’s accession, meaning our interest is to preserve good, friendly relations. One should bear this in mind,” Chepurin pointed out.

He added that Russia and Serbia were geopolitical allies and that this was not the case because they were both Slavic nations but because they had similar languages and the same religion and because Russia had always tried to help Serbia in difficult times and vice versa.