MOSCOW: EU plans to send a mission to Kosovo would be illegal without U.N. authorization, Russia’s top envoy to the separatist province said Monday, according to the Interfax news agency.
European Union leaders last week agreed to send a policing and security mission to Kosovo to replace the current United Nations administrative mission, which has been in place since the end of fighting in 1999.
The EU announced the decision amid growing expectation that Kosovo is on the verge of declaring independence from Serbia, despite objections from both Serbia and Russia.
“The structure of the international presence in Kosovo is agreed to in Security Council Resolution 1244, and it does not give the right to freely change the structure of the international presence … That demands a decision of the Security Council,” the agency quoted Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko as saying.
Meanwhile in Belgrade, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said he would offer the continuation of negotiations on Kosovo at a U.N. Security Council session Wednesday. Kosovo Albanians, backed by the U.S. and most EU states, have said the time for the talks was over.
“At the same time, it must be clear that Serbia has already rejected the creation of a puppet state on its territory,” Kostunica said in a statement.
Russia appears ready to use its veto power on the U.N. Security Council to try and block Kosovo from declaring independence without Belgrade’s agreement.
The Russian Foreign Ministry warned Monday that the controversy over Kosovo’s status “is reaching a crisis point.”
“The situation could evolve into an uncontrollable crisis if the settlement is not kept within the international legal framework,” the ministry said in a statement, also blaming the West for aggravating the tensions.
“The slogan of building a multiethnic society (in Kosovo) in fact means the opposite. By encouraging the separatist aspirations of Pristina, the United States and some EU members openly ignore useful ideas suggested” during months of internationally mediated talks, it said.
“The fact that for 120 days the dialogue did not succeed in bringing the sides to compromise is used to make absurd statements that the potential of talks has exhausted itself,” the ministry said.
Russia is a traditional ally of Serbia and supports Belgrade’s contention that Kosovo, although overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian, is an integral part of Serbia and its culture.
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The E.U. wants to take over when the U. N leaves
before Kosovo becomes independent . Russia and Serbia dont seem to accept this . Kosovo is suposed to live under independant supervision . That statement would cancil independance , wouldnt it , As supervision opposite of independant . I supose thats why our advisors have to go to college a long time . in order to pass laws that can say what ever we want them to say . And than not say anything
Comment by eric — December 18, 2007 #