"Serbia in NATO would represent threat to Russia"

"Serbia in NATO would represent threat to Russia" It went in an atmosphere of close friendship and talks about trade and economic cooperation were very concrete and pragmatic, said the diplomat. According to the Russian ambassador, Putin did not talk about relations between official Belgrade and NATO with Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. The issue, as he said, was launched by heads of parliamentary groups in the Serbian parliament who showed Putin that they were not united in their stance regarding the possibility of Serbia joining the western military alliance. “In that situation, Prime Minister Putin clearly presented the Russian position – Serbs should solve the issue by themselves, but Russia thinks that it is necessary to present its opinion about NATO's expansion, which is jeopardizing its security.” Stating a concrete example, he said that nobody asked small countries in the NATO for their opinion, but that that instead decisions were made which these countries then had to fulfill. “Any possible decision about missile deployment in Serbia’s territory would be a threat to Russia’s security and Russia would be forced to take military actions in order to remove that military threat. Those measures would not be aimed against Serbia but against the missiles,” the Russian ambassador explained. Q: Is this statement of Prime Minister Putin a “warning” to the Serbian authorities? A: Serbia has the right to join any organization. We will respect the decision you make on your own, but we are counting on Belgrade to respectfully approach our thoughts that NATO's accession would pose a threat to Russia’s security. I personally think that it is necessary to explain to Serbia what would happen if there was a threat to Russia’s security from its territory. We have been cooperating for 800 years and such a question never appeared. On the contrary, we fought wars against joint enemies and it is not quite clear for what reason weapons pointed against Russia could be deployed in Serbia.” Q: The NATO forces in Kosovo and Metohija are effectively already in a part of the Serbian territory. How does Moscow assess their presence after Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence? A: The Kosovo territory is a part of Serbia in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. NATO's military base is there despite Belgrade’s wishes. This means contrary to international law, and unlawfully. Russia sees it that way. Q: Does Moscow intend to get involved in the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations in Brussels, bearing in mind announcements about involvement of the U.S. representatives? A: The Russian side has confirmed its principal support to Serbia regarding Kosovo. Serbia should determine its position regarding the issue by itself. We have supported the beginning of the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and we are monitoring their course very carefully. We have noticed that they are not going the way it was determined in the UN General Assembly’s resolution from September 9, 2010 and we are not ready to join the negotiations at the moment. Q: According to Putin, the Russian Federation is not worried about Serbia’s European integrations as long as this does not affect the Russian-Serbian relations. What is the “line” at which Moscow would become worried? A: The line is clear. Relations with the EU should not be developed to the detriment of the centuries-long ties with Russia. We always point out that relations with Russia or the EU should not be represented as an alternative. It is necessary and possible to develop mutually useful relations both with Moscow and Brussels, because it would be better if there were more projects that would be in all three sides’ interest. Q: What are Russia’s main strategic interests in the Balkans, and what will the announced signing of the Serbian-Russian strategic partnership agreement mean in that sense? A: The Balkans is a region in which Russia has its historical interests. Slavic people close to us live there, which is why Russian volunteers and soldiers participated in the wars for their independence. Geographically, this region is a place through which Russia is maintaining contacts with other European peoples. We are interested in using this region, for example by building South Stream in order to export gas to Europe. We think that those are completely legitimate interests, especially since they coincide with the interests of Balkan peoples and other European sides. Serbia is one of the closest Russian partners and allies among the countries in the Balkans. We are interested in developing relations in all fields in the long run, which is why Russia came up with the initiative to harmonize the strategic partnership declaration. The main course of our future political, security, economic, cultural and military cooperation and cooperation in the field of education and other fields are outlined. We are very pleased that the Serbian side has responded to our initiative with great readiness. The declaration has already been harmonized and it will be signed during President Boris Tadic’s upcoming visit. Q: Belgrade media claim that the economic package that the Russian Federation set aside for Serbia is worth USD 10bn. What will be realized first? A: I don’t know where the information about USD 10bn came from. The number was not mentioned during the talks, because there are no developed, concrete projects to that sum. The work on existing projects continues. USD 500mn will be invested in NIS (Oil Industry of Serbia) this year. Lukoil’s investment plan and investments in (Hydroelectric Power Plant) Djerdap 1 continue. Galenika (Pharmaceuticals) is starting to build a new facility in the Kalushka region. As far as other projects are concerned, experts are still negotiating that. Both sides have pointed out that the Russian loan worth USD 800mn cannot be used yet. I will personally help its realization. These are several projects connected to Serbian Railways, such as the Valjevo-Loznica section, the Zemun station, the Belgrade-Pancevo part. The problem is that the projects are not completely technically prepared. Once they are finished, the contracts will be signed and the financing will start after that. Q: Regardless of the fact that the focus of the visit was on economic relations, was the Prime Minister Putin’s visit a political support to President Tadic? A: Russia is not interfering with your country’s internal issues and we see our relations within the cooperation between Russia and Serbia, and specifically with the government that is currently in power. This is exactly the strength of our ties – they do not depend on specific circumstances of the country’s internal development. Russia and Serbia consider each other to be very friendly partners and they are making plans for long-term cooperation cooperation. Konuzin and Putin in Belgrade last week (Tanjug) Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Vasilyevich Konuzin told Belgrade-based daily Danas in an interview that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit last week had "completely met the principal expectations". /Journalist: Jelena Tasic “Any possible decision about missile deployment in Serbia’s territory would be a threat to Russia’s security and Russia would be forced to take military actions in order to remove that military threat."

"Serbia in NATO would represent threat to Russia"

It went in an atmosphere of close friendship and talks about trade and economic cooperation were very concrete and pragmatic, said the diplomat.

According to the Russian ambassador, Putin did not talk about relations between official Belgrade and NATO with Serbian President Boris Tadić and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković. The issue, as he said, was launched by heads of parliamentary groups in the Serbian parliament who showed Putin that they were not united in their stance regarding the possibility of Serbia joining the western military alliance.

“In that situation, Prime Minister Putin clearly presented the Russian position – Serbs should solve the issue by themselves, but Russia thinks that it is necessary to present its opinion about NATO's expansion, which is jeopardizing its security.”

Stating a concrete example, he said that nobody asked small countries in the NATO for their opinion, but that that instead decisions were made which these countries then had to fulfill.

“Any possible decision about missile deployment in Serbia’s territory would be a threat to Russia’s security and Russia would be forced to take military actions in order to remove that military threat. Those measures would not be aimed against Serbia but against the missiles,” the Russian ambassador explained.

Q: Is this statement of Prime Minister Putin a “warning” to the Serbian authorities?

A: Serbia has the right to join any organization. We will respect the decision you make on your own, but we are counting on Belgrade to respectfully approach our thoughts that NATO's accession would pose a threat to Russia’s security. I personally think that it is necessary to explain to Serbia what would happen if there was a threat to Russia’s security from its territory. We have been cooperating for 800 years and such a question never appeared. On the contrary, we fought wars against joint enemies and it is not quite clear for what reason weapons pointed against Russia could be deployed in Serbia.”

Q: The NATO forces in Kosovo and Metohija are effectively already in a part of the Serbian territory. How does Moscow assess their presence after Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence?

A: The Kosovo territory is a part of Serbia in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. NATO's military base is there despite Belgrade’s wishes. This means contrary to international law, and unlawfully. Russia sees it that way.

Q: Does Moscow intend to get involved in the Belgrade-Priština negotiations in Brussels, bearing in mind announcements about involvement of the U.S. representatives?

A: The Russian side has confirmed its principal support to Serbia regarding Kosovo. Serbia should determine its position regarding the issue by itself. We have supported the beginning of the negotiations between Belgrade and Priština and we are monitoring their course very carefully. We have noticed that they are not going the way it was determined in the UN General Assembly’s resolution from September 9, 2010 and we are not ready to join the negotiations at the moment.

Q: According to Putin, the Russian Federation is not worried about Serbia’s European integrations as long as this does not affect the Russian-Serbian relations. What is the “line” at which Moscow would become worried?

A: The line is clear. Relations with the EU should not be developed to the detriment of the centuries-long ties with Russia. We always point out that relations with Russia or the EU should not be represented as an alternative. It is necessary and possible to develop mutually useful relations both with Moscow and Brussels, because it would be better if there were more projects that would be in all three sides’ interest.

Q: What are Russia’s main strategic interests in the Balkans, and what will the announced signing of the Serbian-Russian strategic partnership agreement mean in that sense?

A: The Balkans is a region in which Russia has its historical interests. Slavic people close to us live there, which is why Russian volunteers and soldiers participated in the wars for their independence. Geographically, this region is a place through which Russia is maintaining contacts with other European peoples. We are interested in using this region, for example by building South Stream in order to export gas to Europe. We think that those are completely legitimate interests, especially since they coincide with the interests of Balkan peoples and other European sides. Serbia is one of the closest Russian partners and allies among the countries in the Balkans. We are interested in developing relations in all fields in the long run, which is why Russia came up with the initiative to harmonize the strategic partnership declaration. The main course of our future political, security, economic, cultural and military cooperation and cooperation in the field of education and other fields are outlined. We are very pleased that the Serbian side has responded to our initiative with great readiness. The declaration has already been harmonized and it will be signed during President Boris Tadić’s upcoming visit.

Q: Belgrade media claim that the economic package that the Russian Federation set aside for Serbia is worth USD 10bn. What will be realized first?

A: I don’t know where the information about USD 10bn came from. The number was not mentioned during the talks, because there are no developed, concrete projects to that sum. The work on existing projects continues. USD 500mn will be invested in NIS (Oil Industry of Serbia) this year. Lukoil’s investment plan and investments in (Hydroelectric Power Plant) Đerdap 1 continue. Galenika (Pharmaceuticals) is starting to build a new facility in the Kalushka region. As far as other projects are concerned, experts are still negotiating that. Both sides have pointed out that the Russian loan worth USD 800mn cannot be used yet. I will personally help its realization. These are several projects connected to Serbian Railways, such as the Valjevo-Loznica section, the Zemun station, the Belgrade-Pančevo part. The problem is that the projects are not completely technically prepared. Once they are finished, the contracts will be signed and the financing will start after that.

Q: Regardless of the fact that the focus of the visit was on economic relations, was the Prime Minister Putin’s visit a political support to President Tadić?

A: Russia is not interfering with your country’s internal issues and we see our relations within the cooperation between Russia and Serbia, and specifically with the government that is currently in power. This is exactly the strength of our ties – they do not depend on specific circumstances of the country’s internal development. Russia and Serbia consider each other to be very friendly partners and they are making plans for long-term cooperation cooperation.