"Serbia in NATO would be threat to Russia"

Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin says Serbia's possible decision to join NATO would put it at odds with Russia's security interests. Speaking to Belgrade-based daily Danas in the wake of the visit by PM Vladimir Putin last week, Konuzin said the meetings in Belgrade were successful and went in a friendly atmosphere. "Serbia in NATO would be threat to Russia" According to the ambassador, it was not Putin who raised the issue of Serbia's possible NATO membership, but that his comments came in reaction to questions posed by MP group chiefs during his visit to the Serbia parliament. “In that situation, Prime Minister Putin clearly presented the Russian position – Serbs should solve the issue by themselves, but Russia thinks that it is necessary to present its opinion about NATO's expansion, which is jeopardizing its security.” The ambassador reiterated his country's support over Kosovo and said Moscow had no plans to take part in the ongoing Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, noting that the talks "are not going the way it was determined in the UN General Assembly’s resolution from September 9". Russia does not object to Serbia's EU integration ambition, and believes it is "necessary and possible to develop mutually useful relations both with Moscow and Brussels, because it would be better if there were more projects that would be in all three sides’ interest", said Konuzin. The full text of the interview is available here

"Serbia in NATO would be threat to Russia"

According to the ambassador, it was not Putin who raised the issue of Serbia's possible NATO membership, but that his comments came in reaction to questions posed by MP group chiefs during his visit to the Serbia parliament.

“In that situation, Prime Minister Putin clearly presented the Russian position – Serbs should solve the issue by themselves, but Russia thinks that it is necessary to present its opinion about NATO's expansion, which is jeopardizing its security.”

The ambassador reiterated his country's support over Kosovo and said Moscow had no plans to take part in the ongoing Belgrade-Priština dialogue, noting that the talks "are not going the way it was determined in the UN General Assembly’s resolution from September 9".

Russia does not object to Serbia's EU integration ambition, and believes it is "necessary and possible to develop mutually useful relations both with Moscow and Brussels, because it would be better if there were more projects that would be in all three sides’ interest", said Konuzin.

The full text of the interview is available here