The West's pressure on Serbia is obvious, and the US and its allies are encouraging Kosovo to maintain tensions in the region, said Russia's new ambassador to Serbia, Alexander Bocan-Harchenko.

According to the Sputnik portal, he pointed out that these pressures are felt during the pre-accession negotiations that the European Union leads with Serbia, while the Americans are doing it in an even stronger way.

At the same time, there is no evidence that Belgrade's interests are in any way considered when finding compromise solutions, said the new Russian ambassador.

"West, and above all Washington, supports exclusively Kosovo Albanians, their military structures and the moves to create an army, not only that are not within the legal framework but are an obvious intention to increase tensions," he said.

Bocan-Harchenko also said that Moscow hopes that tensions over Kosovo will not turn into a major conflict, that "Europe will see that the situation develops in a dangerous direction" and that "it could get out of control that would lead to more serious conflicts."

The Russian ambassador said Moscow is in favour of Kosovo negotiations based on an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina but based on the approval of the world community within the United Nations Security Council.

Only such an agreement can put a point on this issue and ensure a long-term solution to the problems and stability in the region, he added.

Bocan-Harchenko said that Moscow "will demand in all ways that a full investigation be conducted after which the responsible for the attack on the Russian UN member in Kosovo, Mikhail Krasnoshchekov, would be brought to justice".

"This incident is a public aggression against the citizens of the Russian Federation," he said, adding that this was a "case unheard of'', that it's about savagery and that he could not see things such as that, anywhere in the world.

"The attempts to justify in any way the Kosovo Albanians are incompatible with the human approach to the UN collaborator who successfully performed his work in extremely difficult conditions and acted in the framework of the powers granted to him by the UN," he said.

Bocan Harchenko also commented on Russia – Serbia relations, adding Moscow would approve 172.5 million Euros credit to Belgrade for the development of infrastructure.

He added a loan would also help to build Serbia's railway dispatch centre.