http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=24496&cid=58&p=20.03.2008
Voice of Russia
March 20, 2008
WASHINGTON’S DECISION TO SUPPLY WEAPONS TO KOSOVO
AGGRAVATES SITUATION IN THE REGION
Alexander Vatutin
-[T]he current Kosovo government consists of former
militants who did their best to drive Serbs out. These
militants will be the ones to receive American weapons
and introduce order on a scheme suggested by their
overseas patrons.
-[I]t’s necessary to continue talks, rather than
supplying weapons to those who changed camouflage
uniforms for civilized suits.
-In the meantime, the world is witnessing what has
been dubbed the Kosovo syndrome, which is accompanied
by separatism and ethnic clashes.
The decision by President Bush to supply weapons to
the self-proclaimed government in Pristina is yet
another instance of breaching international law by
infringing the territorial integrity of Serbia and
adds to the already explosive situation in the Balkan
Region.
The move followed the tragedy in Kosovksa-Mitrovica,
where international forces reporting to the United
Nations and NATO exceeded their powers against the
Serbs, who fight for their right to stay one country
with Serbia.
After boycotting Resolution 1244 of the UN that saw
Kosovo as part of Serbia the United States has now got
itself established in Kosovo and is ready to provide
separatists with weapons under the lame pretext that
it will facilitate Pristina’s participation in
peace-keeping operations and will contribute to "peace
on the planet".
Washington keeps silent, however, that this will be an
American-style peace.
And it is no secret that the current Kosovo government
consists of former militants who did their best to
drive Serbs out. These militants will be the ones to
receive American weapons and introduce order on a
scheme suggested by their overseas patrons.
Moscow believes that the region should be returned to
the jurisdiction of international law.
To this end, it’s necessary to continue talks, rather
than supplying weapons to those who changed camouflage
uniforms for civilized suits.
The talks should proceed from the recognition of the
territorial integrity of Serbia and renunciation of a
surrogate state. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov had this to say on the issue:
"Russia calls for diplomatic methods in settling any
crises," he said. "And the international forces
staying in Kosovo under the UN mandate must pursue it
on an overall basis, which precludes any unilateral
steps. International law is obligatory for all on all
continents without exceptions."
In the meantime, the world is witnessing what has been
dubbed the Kosovo syndrome, which is accompanied by
separatism and ethnic clashes.
And Moscow keeps warning of the danger of creating
similar precedents in the future.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
