Russian minister's warning: West Raises Tensions in Balkans

In an interview for Serbian news agency Beta, Lavrov said that the “anti-ruse” in the West are making Balkan states choose between the West and Russia, as a condition to join the European Union and NATO, broadcast Radio Free Europe.

Lavrov told Serbian broadcaster N1 that forcing Balkan countries to choose sides is the highly wrong <x0-political” and that Russia aims to maintain its interests and ties with countries like Serbia.

The European Union has recently set 2025 as the date for possible admission of Serbia and Montenegro into its ranks.

EU leaders have assigned difficult conditions to the two countries, especially in establishing rule of law, guaranteeing fundamental rights and resolving regional territorial disputes, but have not openly promoted anti-Russian policies as a condition for membership.

Serbia, in particular, has continued to foster close ties with Moscow and has said it will not join EU economic sanctions against Russia due to its aggression in Ukraine.

Belgrade has also made no effort to join NATO, both its neighbouring countries Macedonia and Montenegro, which have joined the military alliance last year.

Belgrade's neutral military policy has not been openly opposed by American or European leaders.

Western countries, however, have raised doubts about the creation of a joint Russian-Serbia humanitarian centre in the town of Nis, which Western officials suspect could be used by Russia to hide spies and distribute propaganda in the Balkans.

An American lawmaker, who visited Serbia last year, has said that to ensure the flow of investments from the West, American officials want to see indicators that Serbia aims towards Western democracies and capitalisation of the free market and points to aggression that, unfortunately, Russian President Vladimir Putin is demonstrating with Russia currently.

Lavrov told Beta agency that the obligation of Balkan countries to adopt anti-Russian policies “is increasing tensions in Europe”.

“Washington and several European leaders send their ambassadors to the Balkans for this exact purpose: do not be friends with Russia, reject co-operation with him in all fields”.

Lavrov condemned, as he said, Western hysteria for the humanitarian centre in Nis, where, according to him, only four Russians currently work.

Lavrov, who is expected to visit Serbia on 21 February, said Russia will continue to block Kosovo from accession to the United Nations until Belgrade and Pristina negotiate a compromise on the issue of sovereignty, as required by Serbian leaders.