BELGRADE, Serbia: Serbia’s government warned the United States on Tuesday against unilateral recognition of Kosovo’s independence without U.N. Security Council consent.
It said any unilateral recognition of Kosovo’s independence “would be a violation of the U.N. Charter and its norms,” which guarantee the existing borders of the U.N. member states.
U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said Monday that the U.S. considers independence the only option for the Serbian province, which has been a U.N. protectorate since 1999.
He has suggested that the U.S. may recognize Kosovo’s split from Serbia, even if Russia carries out its threat to veto a U.N. plan proposing internationally supervised independence for the province, where separatist ethnic Albanians comprise an overwhelming majority.
Russia, Serbia’s historic ally, is one of the five veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council.
“We will support a declaration of independence by the people of Kosovo,” Burns said, but added that the U.S. expected the U.N. resolution to pass in the Security Council, and that Kosovo’s independence would then recognized by other countries, including the U.S.
The Serbian government, in response, issued what it called “a strong warning” that “U.N. member nations cannot unitarily” recognize Kosovo’s statehood.
“Belgrade would fully reject as null and void any recognition of Kosovo’s independence, because it would represent direct interfering by those states into Serbia’s internal affairs,” a government statement said.
Pro-Western Serbian President Boris Tadic also protested at Burns’ statement. Tadic said Serbia intends to use “all diplomatic and legal means to protect its national interest and keep its territory.”
Burns said the U.S. had hoped that the U.N. plan - granting the breakaway province its own army, flag, anthem and constitution - would be debated by the U.N. Security Council within weeks.
Serbia, which considers Kosovo its historic heartland, has rejected the U.N. proposal, and has been supported by Russia.
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If United States thinks they can start another war let them . Serbia must not go to war!
If Russia ,Chinia , India and Israel all help Serbia . We still do not want a war . Although
land is the only thing worth fighting for . land represents life. So you are fighting for your life
Comment by eric — April 19, 2007 #