Russia says the West is spreading "lies" about clashes between Serb mobs and NATO troops in the breakaway region of Kosovo.
"We call on the West to stop its deceitful propaganda, to stop blaming the events in Kosovo on the Serbian community, who are trying to defend their legitimate rights and freedoms peacefully and without weapons," the Russian Foreign Ministry said today.
Kosovo is a breakaway region in southwestern Serbia that declared independence in 2008 but Serbia does not recognize it. Kosovo has a population of 1.8 million, mostly ethnic Albanians. About 120,000 Serbs living in northern Kosovo remain politically loyal to Belgrade and do not recognize the government in Pristina.
The Serb community has recently protested the results of April local elections, which saw ethnic Albanian candidates elected mayors in several northern Kosovo towns. The community had boycotted the elections, partly giving ethnic Albanians control of local councils, despite low voter turnout.
"It is not too late to reverse the narrative regarding the phony local elections of April 23, if the West is truly interested in peace and stability," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
According to Moscow, "the first task now is to establish Serbian community areas." This is a controversial proposal because it means allowing the Serbian community a certain degree of self-government.
"We need decisive steps to cool down tensions, not half-hearted measures as proposed by the United States," the Russian Foreign Ministry added, criticizing NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) as "a source of unnecessary violence, a factor in escalating the situation."
Ethnic Serb community faces riot police in the town of Zvecan, northern Kosovo on May 29. Photo: AFP
The comments came as clashes broke out between Kosovo police and Serbian protesters outside the administrative building of the breakaway town of Zvecan on May 29, as the crowd tried to storm inside and law enforcement fired tear gas to stop them.
KFOR soldiers initially tried to separate the protesters from the police, then used shields and batons to disperse the crowd. Some protesters threw rocks, bottles and flaming bottles at the NATO soldiers, but they were quickly pushed back from the building. More than 30 soldiers and more than 50 civilians were injured in the clashes.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell today called on the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia to immediately de-escalate tensions, warning that the bloc "is discussing possible measures if both sides continue to reject proposed steps to de-escalate the situation".
The US, UK, France, Italy and Germany previously issued a joint statement calling on Kosovo to step back and de-escalate tensions. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the separatist authorities for "acting contrary to US and European advice, unnecessarily escalating tensions, and undermining efforts to normalize Kosovo-Serbia relations as well as relations between the US and Kosovo."
Location of Serbia and Kosovo. Graphics: BBC
Kosovo, with an area of about 10,800 km2, is a breakaway territory located in southwestern Serbia. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia does not recognize it and claims sovereignty over the area. Kosovo has a population of 1.8 million, mainly ethnic Albanians.
About 120,000 Serbs living in northern Kosovo do not recognize the government in Pristina. They are politically loyal to Serbia, which still provides financial support to the community. Most Western countries recognize Kosovo's independence, but the breakaway region has not been granted a seat at the United Nations, due to objections from Russia and China.
Nhu Tam (According to AFP, Reuters )
Source link
Comment (0)