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FoNet
March 17, 2008
Russia to monitor Kosovo while heading UN
NEW YORK - Vitaly Churkin says that Russia will “keep
an eye on the Kosovo situation” while heading the UN
Security Council.
“Firstly, we will discuss the new resolution to combat
terrorism. Russia is one of the initiators for putting
it on the agenda. We will also address the situation
in Afghanistan and hold regular meetings regarding the
Middle East, and analyze the situation on the African
continent. Of course, we will also continue to monitor
the Kosovo situation,” said the Russian UN ambassador
yesterday.
He reiterated that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
had said that “Resolution 1244, which speaks of
Serbia’s territorial integrity, remains in force, and
the UN’s presence in Kosovo will continue within the
resolution’s framework, and there is no political,
legal or moral justification for the unilateral
declaration of independence.”
“This statement by the secretary general was not met
with opposition by any members of the Security
Council. Russia will insist that the Kosovo question
remain at the top of the Security Council’s agenda,
and that the illegal dispatch of the EU mission does
not disrupt the work of UN representatives,” Churkin
underlined.
The ambassador said that “in some documents, the EU
mentions some kind of period of 120 days,” after which
the EU mission would take over from its UN
counterpart.
“It is completely unclear where they got this from. If
they try in any way to implement this set-up, it would
realistically go against Resolution 1244 and
international law. The question of how the mission
will function in the territory is their own personal
matter,” he said.
Churkin also talked of the possibility of Kosovo
becoming a UN member-state.
“As far as Kosovo’s hypothetical membership of the UN
is concerned, I think that it is too early to even ask
such a question. A legal solution to the problem
between Belgrade and Priština is still a possibility.
As far as formality is concerned, the decision to
accept a new member is passed by the General Assembly
on the recommendation of the Security Council."
"And, since two of the members of the Security Council
– Russia and China – are against the province’s
unilateral independence declaration, there is no
chance of Kosovo receiving a positive recommendation,”
the ambassador warned.
....
Serbian News Network - SNN
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http://www.antic.org/
