Russian ambassador labels K.Mitrovica action "provocation"

Aleksandr Alexeyev called the UNMIK and KFOR operation in Kosovska Mitrovica on May 17 provocation. The Russian ambassador added that Moscow wanted a very detailed investigation to determine who had ordered the operation and how legal it had been. Russian ambassador labels K.Mitrovica action "provocation" "It is necessary to establish clearly who, and on which basis, made the decision to use force in Kosovska Mitrovica. The names of the people who made this decision are necessary, rather than formulations, and an assessment of how legal these solutions were is also needed," he told Tanjug in an interview. Surmising that events in Kosovska Mitrovica were an attempt to force the Serbs to accept the illegal unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, Alexeyev pointed out that the aims and means used in the joint UNMIK/KFOR operation on March 17 were illegal, and were an obvious attempt by the international forces to overstep their mandate. “I think that it was a signal to the Kosovo Serbs, Belgrade and all those who do not recognize Kosovo’s independence: ‘We’ll do what we think is necessary, regardless of international law and customs.’ Those things can only be negative and must be stopped, which is in Russia’s interests and the interests of all,” the ambassador reflected. Speaking of the upcoming Serbian parliamentary elections, he said that Russia’s position was clear—“non-interference in Serbian affairs” —and that Moscow would accept any decision of the Serbian people taken in a democratic manner. “We want our Serbian friends to form a government as soon as possible, a strong ruling coalition with a clear majority in parliament, and to create an effective government. Institutions like the government and parliament are always vital, particularly in the circumstances Serbia finds herself in,” Alexeyev stressed. “Not now, nor in the future will Serbia face any attempts at blackmail or imposition of certain conditions by Russia. We have never had two levels of negotiations—public, where we say nice things, and another level, where we make some sort of bargains. That certainly isn’t our practice,” the ambassador underlined. Aleksandr Alexeyev (FoNet, archive)

Russian ambassador labels K.Mitrovica action "provocation"

"It is necessary to establish clearly who, and on which basis, made the decision to use force in Kosovska Mitrovica. The names of the people who made this decision are necessary, rather than formulations, and an assessment of how legal these solutions were is also needed," he told Tanjug in an interview.

Surmising that events in Kosovska Mitrovica were an attempt to force the Serbs to accept the illegal unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, Alexeyev pointed out that the aims and means used in the joint UNMIK/KFOR operation on March 17 were illegal, and were an obvious attempt by the international forces to overstep their mandate.

“I think that it was a signal to the Kosovo Serbs, Belgrade and all those who do not recognize Kosovo’s independence: ‘We’ll do what we think is necessary, regardless of international law and customs.’ Those things can only be negative and must be stopped, which is in Russia’s interests and the interests of all,” the ambassador reflected.

Speaking of the upcoming Serbian parliamentary elections, he said that Russia’s position was clear—“non-interference in Serbian affairs” —and that Moscow would accept any decision of the Serbian people taken in a democratic manner.

“We want our Serbian friends to form a government as soon as possible, a strong ruling coalition with a clear majority in parliament, and to create an effective government. Institutions like the government and parliament are always vital, particularly in the circumstances Serbia finds herself in,” Alexeyev stressed.

“Not now, nor in the future will Serbia face any attempts at blackmail or imposition of certain conditions by Russia. We have never had two levels of negotiations—public, where we say nice things, and another level, where we make some sort of bargains. That certainly isn’t our practice,” the ambassador underlined.