Lavrov: EU, NATO mull using force against K. Serbs

Russia is actively supporting Serbia's demands to establish its territorial integrity, Sergei Lavrov says. Lavrov is in Belgrade today, where he arrived as part of a high-level Russian delegation led by First Deputy Premier Dmitry Medvedev. Lavrov: EU, NATO mull using force against K. Serbs In a statement for Russian television, he lashed out at the EU, accusing it of "first undermining Serbia's territorial integrity, and now preparing to secure the territorial integrity of an illegal creation". "It is unacceptable that, for the first time in the post [Second World War] history, a UN member is partitioned, despite all the principles and all the pillars so far implemented in solving territorial disputes," Lavrov said. "I do not know what the real motives are of the U.S. and several European countries, which from the start said that any outcome except independence was unacceptable," Lavrov said, in reference to the Kosovo status negotiations. "The fact is that this has brought huge, still not fully apparent tension to Europe," he added. "The EU mission, which is paradoxically named 'the rule of law mission', is fairly aggressively stating that it will secure Kosovo's territorial integrity. What interesting logic: by undermining a country's territorial integrity, the EU is ready to secure the territorial integrity of an illegal creation," Lavrov continued. "Among other things, it is seriously deliberated whether to use force to contain those Serbs who are unwilling to be ruled by the Pristina authorities in this unilaterally declared state," Lavrov said. "There is information that shows NATO is trying to use force to close the administrative line between northern Kosovo and the rest of Serbia," the Russian foreign minister revealed. His statements today shifted the war of words over the latest phase of the province's status crisis from the verbal showdowns Moscow wages with Washington to Brussels. Earlier today, Dmitry Rogozin said that Russia had no plans of its own to use military force to solve problems related to Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. “Of course, there will be no use of force,” Russia’s NATO envoy said in an interview with a Russian television station. According to Russian agency RIA, Rogozin was asked to comment on the “misinterpretation of some media of his statements at the Moscow-Brussels video conference of February 22,” where he said that the use of force is an option. Some media, citing Rogozin’s statements regarding the Kosovo situation, said that there is a possibility that Russia would use force to implement international law, which was met with a strong reaction by the United States. Rogozin, however, stated that the U.S. should "use more reliable sources, not suspicious ones". He said that Russia will maintain its stance on Kosovo within the United Nations Security Council, of which it is a permanent member.

Lavrov: EU, NATO mull using force against K. Serbs

In a statement for Russian television, he lashed out at the EU, accusing it of "first undermining Serbia's territorial integrity, and now preparing to secure the territorial integrity of an illegal creation".

"It is unacceptable that, for the first time in the post [Second World War] history, a UN member is partitioned, despite all the principles and all the pillars so far implemented in solving territorial disputes," Lavrov said.

"I do not know what the real motives are of the U.S. and several European countries, which from the start said that any outcome except independence was unacceptable," Lavrov said, in reference to the Kosovo status negotiations.

"The fact is that this has brought huge, still not fully apparent tension to Europe," he added.

"The EU mission, which is paradoxically named 'the rule of law mission', is fairly aggressively stating that it will secure Kosovo's territorial integrity. What interesting logic: by undermining a country's territorial integrity, the EU is ready to secure the territorial integrity of an illegal creation," Lavrov continued.

"Among other things, it is seriously deliberated whether to use force to contain those Serbs who are unwilling to be ruled by the Priština authorities in this unilaterally declared state," Lavrov said.

"There is information that shows NATO is trying to use force to close the administrative line between northern Kosovo and the rest of Serbia," the Russian foreign minister revealed.

His statements today shifted the war of words over the latest phase of the province's status crisis from the verbal showdowns Moscow wages with Washington to Brussels.

Earlier today, Dmitry Rogozin said that Russia had no plans of its own to use military force to solve problems related to Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence.

“Of course, there will be no use of force,” Russia’s NATO envoy said in an interview with a Russian television station.

According to Russian agency RIA, Rogozin was asked to comment on the “misinterpretation of some media of his statements at the Moscow-Brussels video conference of February 22,” where he said that the use of force is an option.

Some media, citing Rogozin’s statements regarding the Kosovo situation, said that there is a possibility that Russia would use force to implement international law, which was met with a strong reaction by the United States.

Rogozin, however, stated that the U.S. should "use more reliable sources, not suspicious ones".

He said that Russia will maintain its stance on Kosovo within the United Nations Security Council, of which it is a permanent member.