BELGRADE, January 18. /TASS/. The British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Stuart Peach’s evaluations about Russia’s allegedly subversive activities in the Balkans are unfounded and absurd, Russia’s Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko said on Wednesday.
"We have taken note of British Special Envoy Stuart Peach’s interview published in [Serbia’s] daily Kurir on January 18, especially in terms of his assessments - if you can call them such a lofty word - of Russia’s policy in the Balkans. What is the Briton’s opinion about the audience, the Serbs, if he accuses Russia of allegedly subversive activities in the Balkans, claiming by using completely groundless, unsubstantiated and general terms that stability in the region does not meet our national interests?" the Russian embassy said citing the ambassador.
"However, it is understandable why, as there are no examples of this, since his statements are false. He himself says that Russia has allegedly demonstrated that ‘countless times’, and it really is impossible to count something that does not exist," Botsan-Kharchenko said adding that it is "Westerners’ ego trip and conviction of their own exceptionalism."
In addition, the Russian ambassador pointed out that "Stuart Peach’s empty accusations against Russia will backfire, it will have the opposite effect."
"You need to respect those you address, the representatives of the West," the ambassador said.
In the interview, Peach lambasted Moscow for its policy in the Balkans.