NATO’s attempts to pull countries which have internal conflicts into the alliance are dangerous, Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev told ‘Vecernje Novosti’ as he visited Belgrade on Saturday to meet with Serbia's President, but also with the Serb member of Bosnia’s tripartite Presidency, Milorad Dodik.

Medvedev mentioned Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Serb-majority semi-autonomous entity of Republika Srpska (RS) specifically, saying NATO wants to pull in the country but he also naming some others.

“And what is happening with Georgia? What is happening with Ukraine? Those countries are not in an easy situation at all,” he said.

“No one denies that Russia has its interests regarding ensuring its security. We are a big country, a nuclear power, and the desire to set up NATO bases in our immediate vicinity can obviously not produce positive emotions among us,” Medvedev argued. “We have always responded to this and will continue to, both politically and in a military sense.”

The Russian PM added that attempting to assimilate countries which have internal conflicts should be contrary to the agreement which established NATO, as well as that doing so would carry serious consequences.