http://en.rian.ru/world/20080215/99274521.html
Russian Information Agency Novosti
February 15, 2008
Russia UN envoy says no 'clear support' for Kosovo
independence
UNITED NATIONS - Russia's envoy to the UN said that
Thursday's security council meeting failed to reach a
consensus on independence for Serbia's breakaway
province of Kosovo, with those states in favor in the
minority.
Vitaly Churkin said, after a closed emergency session
of the UN Security Council, there was no "clear cut
support" for independence in Kosovo with only five of
the 15 members backing unilateral sovereignty for the
Albanian-dominated province.
"They not only have no legal, but no moral right to
follow a policy of dragging Pristina to
independence...," Churkin said.
The Russian envoy said: "The reaction of the
'minority' - the U.S., Britain and France was also
predictable, with the ambassadors repeating yet again
that the situation was at a dead end and the
protracted problem was impossible to solve within the
walls of the UN."
The separatist Serbian province is expected to
unilaterally declare its independence on Sunday or
Monday. Serbia demanded an emergency meeting Thursday
to make a last-ditch effort to try and halt the move,
which Belgrade calls "an illegal act."
Although Kosovo's independence is backed by the United
States and most EU countries, Serbia, Russia and some
European states oppose the plans, considering any
declaration a violation of international law.
Speaking before the UN Security Council emergency
meeting in New York, Churkin said that Russia would
support Serbia's struggle to preserve the country's
integrity.
"Belgrade is continuing to courageously struggle to
keep the territorial integrity of its country. Russia
does not abandon its friends at difficult times,"
Churkin told journalists.
Kosovo has been a UN protectorate since the NATO
bombing of the former Yugoslavia ended a conflict
between Albanian and Serb forces in 1999.
Over 200,000 Serbians have left Kosovo since 1999 and
some 100,000 are still living in the province with a
total population of two million.
Serbian News Network - SNN
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