The strengthening of the presence of NATO and the EU in the Balkans leads to a deeper destabilization of Europe, Sergei Lavrov has said to the Greek daily Efimerida Syntakton, quotes portal B92.

The Russian foreign minister pointed out that Moscow is concerned about these aspirations.

"The situation in the Balkans cause for concern. We see that NATO and the European Union are stepping up efforts to increase their presence in the region. They are placing the countries in the region before a false choice: whether they want to be with Moscow, or with Washington and Brussels," Lavrov has told the Greek newspaper.

The inability of the European Union to make the self-proclaimed Kosovo to fulfil its obligations place a question mark to its entire reputation, Lavrov is quoted as saying.

According to the Russian official, such activities "deepen the destabilization of the European security structure, lead to increasing tensions and new lines of division".

"Kosovo remains the epicentre of instability (in the Balkans). Pristina is not only openly sabotaging the implementation of the (Brussels) agreement with Belgrade reached with EU's mediation, but is also undertaking provocative measures," Lavrov said.

The Russian minister also pointed out that nothing has happened more than five years when it comes to the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) - and instead Pristina introduced (100 percent) taxes on products from central Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and intends also to create an army that will be directed against the Serbs living in the north of Kosovo.

"These measures are directed precisely at creating impossible conditions for the survival of Kosovo Serbs," Lavrov said.

The minister added that the Serbian leadership is carrying out a very responsible policy, because they promised not to introduce reciprocal measures, reports portal B92.