New York-Sana
Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, expressed his country's concern over the developments in the northern Kosovo region, warning the West against leniency with Pristina's actions.
"The situation in the northern regions of the Serbian Autonomous Region of Kosovo is very worrying, as it has witnessed a marked deterioration during the past month," the Russian TASS news agency quoted Nebenzia as saying during a meeting of the UN Security Council today, expressing his belief that the position of Western countries towards the policy of the Kosovo authorities, which resulted in The recent escalation carries with it the risk of a heated conflict erupting in the region.
Nebenzia added, "The incomprehensible response by our Western colleagues who respect and encourage Pristina in practice gives it the feeling that it is beyond accountability and opens the way for the situation to slip into an open clash."
On October 13, the Serb regions in the north of the province witnessed local Serb protests after the Kosovo police carried out a series of raids in pharmacies and local stores under the pretext of searching for smuggled goods. Security used sound bombs and tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Serbia has put its army on the border with the province on high alert.