Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin said that there has been no specific progress after the Belgrade-Pristina agreement on normalization of relations.

He also said that a majority in the EU was trying to force Belgrade to abandon its position on the Kosovo issue, "step by step, in negotiations for EU membership."

He noted that these negotiations began in December by opening a chapter "on other issues" - which in Serbia's case relates to Kosovo. Churkin said that the question of EU impartiality was raised, and added that UN Resolution 1244 remained as a valid and binding document.

The Russian ambassador said that the situation concerning the Serbs in Kosovo was still very serious.

Churkin said that the Community of Serbian Municipalities - the formation of which has been agreed during the Brussels talks - exists only on paper, even though it should contribute to inter-ethnic relations, by granting rights to Kosovo Serbs.

The situation is hardly satisfactory, Churkin said, adding that mediators in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina from the EU remain silent on the issue of the Community of Municipalities.