Russia Shares Serbia's Concern Over Kosovo Provocative Actions - Putin

Russia shares Serbia's concern over recent provocative steps by Kosovo, including the decision to create own army, which could lead to destabilization of the situation in the Balkans, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday

BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th January, 2019) Russia shares Serbia's concern over recent provocative steps by Kosovo, including the decision to create own army, which could lead to destabilization of the situation in the Balkans, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

"Russia, like Serbia, is interested in ensuring that the situation in the Balkans remains stable and secure. In particular, with regard to Kosovo, the Russian position is well known: we are in favor of achieving a viable and mutually acceptable solution to Kosovo settlement by Belgrade and Pristina on the basis of UNSC Resolution 1244," Putin said at a joint news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.

Putin noted that the Pristina authorities have recently taken a series of provocative steps, which seriously aggravated the situation in the region, including the announcement of the creation of the so-called army of Kosovo.

"Russia fully shares the concerns of the Serbian leadership and citizens, realizing that such irresponsible actions by the Kosovo leadership can lead to destabilization in the Balkans," the Russian president stressed.