Zakharova: Russia will protect Serbia's legitimate interests with regard to Kosovo

Moscow will help Belgrade defend its national interests with regard to Kosovo on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"We will continue to help Belgrade in defending the legitimate national interests with regard to Kosovo on the basis of Security Council resolution 1244, which remains in force without any exceptions and provides a real chance to develop a balanced, fair solution to the Kosovo problem, in accordance with the international law," the diplomat said.

The spokeswoman added that Moscow was alarmed by the new aggravation of the situation in Kosovo and was keeping an eye on the situation round the clock, "especially after a series of provocations that, with the connivance of the United States and the European Union, were undertaken by the 'authorities' in Pristina, who have taken a course to toughen repression against Serbs in Kosovo, using direct ethnically motivated violence," Zakharova said.

According to her, the provocateurs' goal is to take full control of the province's non-Albanian northern districts. At the same time, Kosovo Serbs' endurance, backed by Belgrade, made it possible to avoid major incidents with disastrous consequences.

Zakharova specified that the responsibility for the aggravation of the situation in the province lies with Kosovo "prime minister" Albin Kurti and his "Western guardians."