News | Serbian Unity Congress

December 21, 2007 on 6:47 am | In In Focus, Kosovo & Metohija, News in English |

Some countries are in a rush to push the issue of the final status of Kosovo beyond the jurisdiction of UN Security Council. Russia’s deputy foreign minister Vladimir Titov said on Thursday that these attempts were running counter to internationally recognized crisis control measures. A plan proposed by the EU and NATO to the UN Security Council which provides for granting internationally supervised independence to the Serbian province goes beyond their mandate and Russia and many other members of the Council insist on deciding the matter in line with international law and keep the negotiations going, Vladimir Titov said. He warned about the dangerous consequences of a unilateral independence for Kosovo in circumvention of the United Nations Organization.

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UNILATERAL SOLUTION TO KOSOVO PROBLEM IS UNLAWFUL

The latest session of the UN Security Council that focused on the situation around Kosovo proved unsuccessful. The participants of the discussion, who considered the report of the Troika international mediators about the results of talks on the status of the Kosovo Province, which is currently under the United Nations’ supervision, have failed to reach agreement about further steps.

There have emerged 2 options. The United States and European countries are of the opinion that the potential of talks is exhausted now. After the Council’s session Belgium’s ambassador to the United Nations Johan Verbeke said that under the conditions when the UN Security Council and the warring sides are unable to come to agreement, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) are ready to assume the responsibility for Kosovo’s fate. Defending the above-mentioned idea, the U.S. ambassador Zalmai Halizad underlined that the realization of the “Ahtisaari plan” remained the only possible solution to the problem. As you know, Ahtisaari’s plan provides for granting independence to the Province, which means tearing away Kosovo from Serbia by means of force.

In this case this means unilateral actions, which are unlawful. The recognition of Kosovo’s independence by the United States and its allies would be a gross violation not only of Resolution No. 1244 of the UN Security Council but also of international law, which defends the territorial integrity of sovereign states. Besides, there’s no guarantee that there will no more precedents. And this is exactly what Russia, China, Indonesia, and some African countries made absolutely clear.

For his part, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin called for the extension of consultations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Our proposal for the use of the “road map” is possible should circumstances be favourable enough. It would enable the European Union to strengthen its role. But we believe that any steps the European Union might take must show respect for international law and for resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Negotiations remain the most acceptable way in resolving the Kosovo problem for both the world community and the two conflicting sides. Since this would make it possible to avoid negative consequences, which are inevitable in case of unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence and in case of the aggravation of confrontation between the Serbs and the Albanians.

Related posts:

• Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo: An Abbreviated History, Richard Jansen (Colorado State University)
• Why Kosovo Wasn’t Worth It, Newsweek
• U.N. probe said to criticize March Kosovo raid, Reuters
• Revenge of the Balkans, The National Interest
• Payback time as Kosovo chickens come home to roost, The Independent