Russia concerned about Balkans situation regarding terror attack in Macedonia - Lavrov
BELGRADE. May 15 (Interfax) - Europe should not turn a blind eye to terrorism in Macedonia and Russia will raise this issue with the European Union, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We are seriously concerned that this [the events in Macedonia] is a manifestation of well-prepared terrorist attacks, which are planned and are being perpetrated. In this regard, we are very concerned about the events taking place in Kosovo and in some districts of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Lavrov told a press conference in Belgrade.
Lavrov said the Islamic State is active in this region and "is trying to recruit young people to send them to the Middle East and northern Africa to perpetrate terrorist activities."
"The EU should not turn a blind eye to this station and try to present the situation as if it were just one situation and there is no organizational element behind it. I am convinced that they in Brussels understand very well what is really going on, but they are too shy to say so because they are trying to justify the inefficiency of their own efforts," Lavrov said.
Lavrov said he plans to meet with his colleagues from the EU in the nearest future to discuss the situation in the European region. "We will definitely discuss this issue," he said.
"One cannot try to replace the need for drastic action to curb these dangerous tendencies with some political correctness," Lavrov said.
Lavrov said he believes that "a confrontation mentality" is manifested in the Macedonian events.
"I cannot judge definitely, but it objectively appears that the events in Macedonia are unfolding on the background of the Macedonian government's refusal to join the sanctions against Russia and on the background of active support that Skopje has manifested for the plans to build the gas pipeline Turkish Stream, which is opposed by many in Brussels and overseas," Lavrov said.
"We have supported the actions taken by the Macedonian authorities and we are calling on all political forces to have dialogue without attempts at anti-constitutional actions," he said.