"Kosovo faces worst case scenario"

Aleksandr Alekseyev says he fears that violence could escalate in Kosovo. “We are very concerned about what is happening in Kosovo and what actually took place in Kosovska Mitrovica. This is the first time such a level of violence has been used by the international community and it needs to stop immediately,“ the Russian ambassador told Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti. "Kosovo faces worst case scenario" He added that if it did not stop, “the violence could escalate.“ “International soldiers and police forces overstepped their mandate this time. Their job is to stop violence, not to cause it, like in Kosovska Mitrovica,“ Alekseyev said. “I believe that it is absolutely unacceptable for the Serbs to be forced to accept Kosovo’s unilateral indepedence declaration. Any kind of violence must be stopped immediately. The events in Kosovska Mitrovica confirm the need for the Kosovo conflict to quickly return to the field of international law, negotiation and dialogue,“ the ambassador stressed. “We are in constant contact with our Serbian friends, but unfortunately, the situation is getting more complicated. Unless everyone renounces the violence without delay, the situation will turn into the worst possible scenario, and everyone knows what the worst scenario is,” he warned. Asked whether the events in northern Kosovska Mitrovica marked the beginning of destabilization in the region, he said that “there is now a reality” of everything that Russia had warned the initiators of Kosovo independence of. “A destabilization of the situation in the Balkans has occurred. Inter-ethnic conflicts around the world are also intensifying. Everyone sees that and everyone knows it. If anyone still maintains illusions that Kosovo independence does not set a precedent, these illusions must be banished,” Alekseyev said. As far as Serb and UNMIK relations returning to normal after this incident were concerned, the ambassador said “we hope that relations normalize, but I repeat, the first step is to stop the violence. I will be even clearer: the international presence in Kosovo must stop taking unacceptable actions outside its mandate and violating it.” He added that Russia continued to maintain that the Kosovo crisis needed to be solved within the United Nations Security Council. “I also see nothing unhelpful about making a decision to bring the current events to the attention of this organization,” he said. Alekseyev also remarked on the fact that the violence had coincided with the anniversary of the 2004 riots. “The violence in northern Kosovska Mitrovica occurred exactly on the fourth anniversary of the great pogrom of the Serbs in Kosovo. Back then, we accused the international presence of not reacting adequately and stopping the violence. Now, the international presence is directly participating in the violence against the Serbs,” the ambassador complained.

"Kosovo faces worst case scenario"

He added that if it did not stop, “the violence could escalate.“

“International soldiers and police forces overstepped their mandate this time. Their job is to stop violence, not to cause it, like in Kosovska Mitrovica,“ Alekseyev said.

“I believe that it is absolutely unacceptable for the Serbs to be forced to accept Kosovo’s unilateral indepedence declaration. Any kind of violence must be stopped immediately. The events in Kosovska Mitrovica confirm the need for the Kosovo conflict to quickly return to the field of international law, negotiation and dialogue,“ the ambassador stressed.

“We are in constant contact with our Serbian friends, but unfortunately, the situation is getting more complicated. Unless everyone renounces the violence without delay, the situation will turn into the worst possible scenario, and everyone knows what the worst scenario is,” he warned.

Asked whether the events in northern Kosovska Mitrovica marked the beginning of destabilization in the region, he said that “there is now a reality” of everything that Russia had warned the initiators of Kosovo independence of.

“A destabilization of the situation in the Balkans has occurred. Inter-ethnic conflicts around the world are also intensifying. Everyone sees that and everyone knows it. If anyone still maintains illusions that Kosovo independence does not set a precedent, these illusions must be banished,” Alekseyev said.

As far as Serb and UNMIK relations returning to normal after this incident were concerned, the ambassador said “we hope that relations normalize, but I repeat, the first step is to stop the violence. I will be even clearer: the international presence in Kosovo must stop taking unacceptable actions outside its mandate and violating it.”

He added that Russia continued to maintain that the Kosovo crisis needed to be solved within the United Nations Security Council.

“I also see nothing unhelpful about making a decision to bring the current events to the attention of this organization,” he said.

Alekseyev also remarked on the fact that the violence had coincided with the anniversary of the 2004 riots.

“The violence in northern Kosovska Mitrovica occurred exactly on the fourth anniversary of the great pogrom of the Serbs in Kosovo. Back then, we accused the international presence of not reacting adequately and stopping the violence. Now, the international presence is directly participating in the violence against the Serbs,” the ambassador complained.