Foreign relations of Kosovo

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on Thursday accused the EU and NATO of creating an "unhealthy situation" in Europe, while his Serbian hosts thanked Russia for its support and repeated that Serbia will not introduce Western-style sanctions.

The comment, made after Dacic's meeting in Belgrade with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, was prompted by Hashim Thaci saying that Belgrade "would be able to step out of the false mythology" if Russia recognized Kosovo.

Dacic told a joint press conference with Lavrov that the Greater Albanian rhetoric is the biggest threat in the region.

"We want to continue work on strengthening this tradition in all possible ways for the benefit of present and future generations of our countries," the Serbian and Russian foreign ministers said in a joint article published by Politika in Serbia, and by Rossiyskaya Gazeta in Russia.

Rama also said he would not be "calming anyone down" - and added that if someone was worried, "let them worry."

"The EU's reaction in this respect was normal and in line with its policy. It was nothing but pure imagination," Rama told a local television, the agency ATA reported.

But the choice Brussels is putting before them - "either Russia or the West" - is a very wrong policy, Lavrov told Beta agency in an exclusive, wide-ranging interview on the eve of his visit to Serbia this week.

The East African state of Burundi has recalled its recognition of Kosovo's independence the day before the 10th anniversary of Pristina's unilateral secession from Serbia, Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Saturday.

The note states that Belgrade received the news of the decision of Barbados to recognize Kosovo "with astonishment."

The country will celebrate its national holiday on February 15.

"The level of trust and the high dynamics of contacts between Russia and Serbia showed in a convincing manner that bilateral relations were developing continually and productively," Lavrov said in his message, delivered on Tuesday by Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin.

Nevertheless, they presented opposing views on the situation in Kosovo ten years after the unilateral declaration of independence.

Madrid is not backing down on blocking the EU integration of Kosovo, the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti writes on Thursday.

However, the article continues, Spain will agree to Kosovo in the EU - but only as a region of Serbia.