Russian ambassador in Belgrade leaves security forum over Kosovo

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Russian ambassador in Belgrade told Serbia it would be better off siding with Moscow than with the European Union and NATO, who he said were "against its national interests".

"We have the same interests and we will defend your country, despite interests of some Serbs who want to put their homeland under foreign (Western) influence," ambassador Alexander Konuzin told a forum on global security in Belgrade.

"NATO and the European Union will be against your national interests and it appears you could not care less," Konuzin said before walking out of the forum after a panelist said Russia was attempting to put Belgrade under the thumb of the Kremlin.

The forum, organized by several think tanks from Belgrade, was set to discuss global security, but also regional challenges such as the crisis in Kosovo, a former Serbian province whose independence Belgrade, backed by Russia, opposes.

At the forum, Serbian President Boris Tadic said Belgrade was worried about possible violence in Kosovo after Pristina deploys its customs and border police officers at two border crossings in Kosovo's predominantly Serb north, Reuters reported.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognized by the United States and key EU countries. Belgrade, backed by Russia, China and some EU members such as Spain and Slovakia is staunchly opposed to Kosovo's independence.