TIRANA, Feb. 22 – Albania has condemned Russia’s recognition of two self-declared republics in eastern Ukraine and the pouring of Russian troops into the regions, making its stance known at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, where Tirana currently holds a two-year non-permanent seat.
“Let me reiterate our firm position in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We demand the removal of the occupying troops from the occupied territory. We firmly condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and its military support to the separatist’s forces in the country,” Ambassador Ferit Hoxha, Albania’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council meeting.
He added that Albania, like its NATO allies, “continues to be alarmed by the very large scale, unprovoked and unjustified Russian military build-up in and around Ukraine and in Belarus.”
The United States, the European Union and Britain have all announced they are imposing a first round of sanctions on Moscow for the move, which violates international norms and law and Ukraine’s sovereignty. In the Security Council, they all reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“At this moment, no one can stand on the sidelines,” U.S. Ambassador at U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. “We must make it clear that an attack on Ukraine is an attack on the sovereignty of every U.N. member state and the U.N. Charter — and that it will be met with swift and severe consequences.”
The deterioration of the situation in Ukraine, which Western officials have warned could turn into an outright invasion of the country by Russia, is also causing worries in the Western Balkans, where there are fears Russia might stir ethnic troubles in Bosnia-Herzegovina and elsewhere.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending his top security envoy to the Balkans, where Moscow is trying to maintain influence through its ally Serbia, according to reports from Belgrade.
Serbia’s pro-government media outlets reported that Nikolai Patrushev, a powerful official in the Russian Security Council, is due to visit Belgrade this week for talks with Serb President Aleksandar Vucic, albeit an official announcement of the visit has not been made.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week made claims that “mercenaries” from Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia are being sent to fight on the Ukrainian side, a claim officials from the three countries strongly deny.
Albania’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it: “categorically denies the claims … raised by Russian Foreing Minister Lavrov about the presence of ‘Albanian mercenaries’ in Ukraine.”
It added that the ambassador of the Russian Federation had been called to a meeting, in which the Albanian side protested Lavrov’s statement and asked that it be taken back.
Serb President Vucic on Monday called a meeting of Serbia’s top security officials who reportedly also discussed the reports of “mercenaries” from the Balkans going to Ukraine. Dozens of Serb fighters have in the past fought in eastern Ukraine, but on the side of the pro-Russia rebels.
Serbia tabloids, well known for their pro-government stance, on Tuesday blamed Ukraine for the conflict and urged Russia to send troops to the Balkans to help Serbia unite with the Serb entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Bosnia is in the middle of a political crisis, with EU foreign ministers discussing ways to ease tensions and prevent the possible breakup of the country. Bosnian Serbs, who have the support of Serbia and Russia, are threatening to split from the federation.
