Russian ambassador leaves Belgrade forum over Kosovo
Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:35 GMT
BELGRADE, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Russian ambassador in Belgrade told Serbia on Friday 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 Aleksandar 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.
Serbia is heavily energy-reliant on its historic ally Russia and hopes for a multibillion euro joint investment in the South Stream gas pipeline.
But Serbia also wants to join the European Union and is hoping to win candidacy for the bloc by October. However, Belgrade must first mend ties with Kosovo.
The forum, organised 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 on Friday at two border crossings in Kosovo's predominantly Serb north.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognised 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. (Reporting By Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Rosalind Russell)
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