Zaharova: NATO exercises in Kosovo are a “provocation” against Serbia

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Marija Zakharova has stated that NATO's activities in the Balkans initially aim to break up international order, answering the question to comment on NATO exercises “Defender 2023” in Kosovo.

These activities have nothing in common with the values declared by NATO with freedom and democracy. Stinging to falsely strengthen regional security, the United States, as well as its allies, are deliberately undermining stability in that part of Europe, deepening the lines leading to division, and simply, more and more push the population into a state of nervousness due to outside threats imposed”, she said.

Zaharova stressed that the decision to do Kosovo -- the main source of tension -- the country of developing military exercises actually proves all of this.

“is not only an anti-Serb provocation, but also a diversion against the basic grounds for regulating the Kosovo issue”, she said.

She said she understands how hard the West is making efforts to force Serbian friends to stop co-operating with Russia.

“Precisely because of all of this we appreciate even more of Republika Srpska's decision not to give up co-operation with Russia”, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Marija Zakharova told RT Balkan, responding to the question of how she would comment on Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik's visit to Moscow, in view of the pressures that the West requires halting Serbian leaders' co-operation with Russia.

“We are convinced that co-operation with Russia fits the people of Republika Srpska and benefits them. Those who want to overcome our cooperation will not succeed. Those efforts have no prospect. They will not prevent co-operation between Russia and Serbia and Republika Srpska,” said Zaharova.

She noted that the West also uses fraud and sanctions threats.

“Co-operation between Republika Srpska and Russia is starting to look more and more like a strategic partnership,” she stressed.

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik met yesterday in Moscow with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin. At the start of the meeting, Putin told Dodik he was grateful to Srpska for its neutral stand on the conflict in Ukraine.

Responding to the question of how Moscow views the agreement between Belgrade and Budapest for the construction of the oil pipeline, as it indirectly connects Serbia with Russia, Zakharova hailed Serbia's efforts to strengthen and ensure its energy security.

We respect the desire of some countries to independently make decisions regarding energy co-operation. Serbia is a friendly country that wants to work on strengthening energy security,” she said.

Zakharova added that the conflict in Ukraine harms all of Europe daily and that the pipeline initiative leads to a safe supply of Russian energy.

We view this new project as a reasonable decision by some countries to pursue their national interests first and pay attention to their economic needs and the needs of their citizens. Russia respects the sovereign right of other countries to develop transnational energy and infrastructure. She said “.

According to her, Russia, as everyone knows already, is a responsible exporter of energy resources to the world market and is willing to hand them over to all countries at fair market prices.