RTS reports about polemics between the newly appointed US envoy for the Western Balkans Mathew Palmer and Russian Ambassador to Serbia, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko. Earlier Palmer told Montenegro-based television that Moscow wishes unstable region. Botsan-Kharchenko responded to this by saying why would Russia need instability in the Western Balkans while her leading companies are implementing the long-term projects in Serbia.

“We see the Western Balkans as a member of western countries’ family, integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions, as states cooperated with based on rules and norms. Russians have shown they want the region based on unrest and mistrust. I think we have seen it the most clearly in Montenegro when Russians supported coup d'état in 2016, which was unthinkable act to prevent Montenegro moving towards NATO and the West,” Palmer told Montenegro TV.

Meanwhile, Botsan-Kharchenko termed Palmer’s claims “unfounded accusations”.

“Probably, signs of the support to the stability include military aggression against sovereign country, murders of the people, destruction of infrastructure, saturation with depleted uranium. Or breaking countries into pieces, dividing the people who lived in the same community. Or imposing against the will and despite decisions of lawmakers and the governments of choice to the benefits of NATO membership (…).” Botsan-Kharchenko said.