Russian Ambassador: “No international inveestigation. Pan-Albanian rhetoric, concerning”

25/05/2015 00:00

The Russian Ambassador to Tirana, Alexander Karpushin, declared in an
interview for Top Channel that the authorities in Macedonia should
investigate the situation in Macedonia on their own, without an
international investigation.

He also says that the pan-Albanian rhetoric is a concern for Moscow, and explains the Russian presence in Balkan.

Top Channel: What are your comments about the recent developments in Macedonia, which have raised tensions in Balkan, and how can this situation be resolved, keeping in mind the declaration of the Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, who said that Macedonia could be divided between Albania and Bulgaria?

Russian Ambassador, Alexander Karpushin: In Moscow we see with concern any violent incident of the world. The consequences of these incidents are dangerous and unpredictable especially in the multi-ethnic and multi-religious region of Balkan. We know that the clash in Kumanova took place with a background of a troubled political situation in Macedonia. The list of the arrested suspects showed they were mainly Albanians from Kosovo. It is still unclear how they were able to enter the Macedonian territory while being armed. As the Foreign Minister of Russia declared, there are suspicions that the organizers might be outside Macedonia. The media wrote that based on the data of the Interior Miniter of Macedonia, this group had planned to attack the government institutions to destabilize the country. I hope that the investigators will soon find the purposes of this group. My short comment on this incident is that there is no doubt that the Macedonian authorities are able to realize an impartial investigation of the incident. Certainly, the solution of the political crisis in Macedonia is possible only with peaceful instruments. The solution of the political crisis in Macedonia is possible only with peaceful means and an inclusive dialogue. We know that massive protests were organized in Skopje. The protesters even raised tents in front of the government offices, but we know that any scenario of colored revolution should be considered as very dangerous. The efforts to change the current power outside the legislation structures, cannot favor the internal stability. The best examples of the past years are Libya and Ukraine, which are having an internal crisis with unclear perspectives.

Top Channel: The Declaration of the Russian Ministry of Interior condemns the declaration of te Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, for what was called the classic unification of Albania and Kosovo.

Ambassador Karpushin: It is not a condemnation, but it expresses a concern. The declaration says that the repeating of the pan-Albanian rhetoric might influence negatively the climate for preserving stability and good neighboring in the Balkan region. This reaction of Moscow is very soft and unexplainable, in my opinion. We know that the Albanian factor is present in several countries of the region, and for this reason, any idea for a possible unification of the Albanian nation should be used with maximal responsibility.

Top Channel: Has Russia’s influence increased in Balkan and how?

Ambassador Karpushin: In my opinion, there is no country in the world that doesn’t want to increase its influence. The question is with what purpose. You might be aware of the sphere of influence concept. Recently, Russia has been accused a lot of trying to rebuild the Cold War spheres of influence. But these accusations are unfounded, the Cold War cannot be repeated because it was the confrontation of two different ideologies that do not exist anymore. The problem is that Russia is often seen today as a new Soviet Union, but this is not true, because the dedication of Russia is to develop close and pragmatic relations with mutual profit for our partners. The term “influence” goes more for the western countries, which consider it a normal thing to pressure the leaders of other countries. NATO continues with the enlargement procss and we have seen this in the Southern Ruma, in Bulgaria, which had external pressure. Even in the context of sanctions against Russia, held by many EU and Balkan countries, the result is that they are suffering colossal damage. I am the Chief of the Diplomatic Mission of Russia in Albania, and I can guarantee that Russia is not dedicated to increase its influence in Albania today. On the contrary, we are engaged to develop our relations in cultural, humanitarian and economic areas. We would be happy if Albania would be part of the Russian gas projects in the region or if Albania would invite Russian specialists to build railways and other infrastructure projects. But we see with regret that so far, there has been no such a will from Albania. I want to underline that even if we aim to increase influences in the region, oru interest is to cooperate without discrimination and with mutual benefit.

Top Channel