http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/12/kosovo.serbia/print
GUARDIAN (UK) Halt Kosovan independence bid, Serbia urges UN Peter Walker and agencies Wednesday March 12 2008 Serbia has urged the UN to halt moves towards establishing an independent Kosovo, but says it will not consider an economic blockade or military action to back up its protests. With strong support from Russia, which also opposes autonomy for the predominantly ethnic Albanian former Yugoslav province, Serbia told the UN security council last night that moves to transfer Kosovo's administration to the EU were illegal. However, Britain - one of the first countries to recognise Kosovo following its unilateral declarations of independence on February 17 - said the debate had already been overtaken by events and Serbia needed to start thinking about how to deal with its new neighbour. Serbia's foreign minister, Vuk Jeremic, told the council that his country would "employ all legal, diplomatic and political means at our disposal" to halt the process. However, it was "in our vital interest that all of Kosovo's communities prosper, and prosper together in peace, security and reconciliation", he said. "This is why Serbia does not intend to impose an embargo, and why we have a clear policy of not resorting to the force of arms." Kosovo came under UN and Nato administration in 1999 after Nato-led military action ended Serbia's crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists. The EU is now expected to take over from the UN - even though not all EU states recognise Kosovo - and has sent a mission to its capital, Pristina. The move was never approved by the security council because of Russian objections. Jeremic told the council that independence moves were "unilateral, illegal and illegitimate". "Let me be clear: it is not that the EU is unwelcome in our southern province, for we do welcome, as a matter of principle, any demonstration of Europe's deepening commitment to our country, including Kosovo," he said. "But there has to be a clear legal mandate for any such commitment - and this can only be achieved by getting the approval of the security council." Russia proposed a draft security council statement yesterday expressing concern at Kosovo's independence declaration and calling for a settlement acceptable to all sides. This was immediately rejected by the UK and US. "It's based on a premise which is now overtaken," Britain's ambassador to the UN, John Sawers, said. "Many members of the council have recognised Kosovo as an independent country and what we ought to do is to make a success of that independence." [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:letters%40guardian.co.uk>
