http://www.russiatoday.com/Politics/2009-10-20/parallels-kosovo-south-ossetia.html
Parallels between Kosovo and South Ossetia “inappropriate” – Medvedev
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Published 20 October, 2009, 20:32
Dmitry Medvedev has warned against inappropriate parallels between the Kosovo
events and last summer's Georgian attack on South Ossetia. He said, however,
both events proved the failure of the European security system.
The Russian President, who is on his first official visit to Serbia, made his
remarks in a speech to the Serb parliament.
“We are categorically against drawing parallels between the Balkan events and
the events in the Caucasus,” he said. “As concerns South Ossetia – it’s our
unambiguous, absolutely clear position – it about repelling direct military
aggression. And what was done by Russia after that, was done in full accordance
with the UN Charter.”
Medvedev said that Russia would give “all forms of support to the two young
Caucasian states” – Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Moscow recognized the
independence of the republics shortly after the Georgian attack.
Meanwhile, Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in February 2008 and
the events that followed "have confirmed the inadequacy of attempts to adjust
the solution of complex international problems to considerations of notorious
political expediency".
"We consider it unacceptable to do what was done in the Kosovo precedent – to
use the lack of progress at negotiations as the reason for unilateral actions,
including recognition of new international legal entities," Medvedev said.
The Russian leader said the solution to the Kosovo problem should be based upon
“the international law, decisions of the UN, resolutions of the UN Security
Council and, primarily, Resolution 1244”.
"Russia is ready to continue giving to Serbia all necessary assistance in
defending its national interests," he said.
Watch Dmitry Medvedev's speech at the Serbian parliament
President Boris Tadic, for his part, said Serbia is not going to change its
stance on Kosovo.
Talking to journalists after a meeting with Medvedev, he said "We will calmly
wait for the verdict of the International Court [on the Kosovo status] and will
then be ready to start the talks with Albanians on the future of the autonomy”.
”But Serbia will never – directly or indirectly – recognize Kosovo
independence," the Serbian president said.
Medvedev calls for drafting rules on conflict settlement
Medvedev suggested that a new European security treaty should lay down clear
rules for the prevention and peaceful settlement of conflicts.
"Lessons of the past warn us against repeating former mistakes and seeking
far-fetched pretexts for altercations. Instead, we should unite in the face of
new threats,” he said.
“That is the reason for the Russian initiative for a new, efficient system of
European security and a related treaty,” he went on.
“In fact, we suggest legalization of the political agreements reached at the
OSCE and the Russia-NATO Council. These agreements imply that security of one
country cannot be ensured at the expense of others," Medvedev said.
The Russian president said that the Balkan crisis and last August's events in
the South
Caucasus, “which resulted from the aggression of the Saakashvili Regime”,
showed that the existing security system was inefficient and needed
modernization.
“The drafting of the European security treaty would start the formation of
equal security on the Euro-Atlantic space and provide equal and reliable
guarantees for all countries, regardless of their affiliation to particular
military units," he said.
Rewriting WW2 history is “disgusting”Medvedev’s visit to the Serbian capital
coincides with the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from Nazi
Germany. Addressing the Serbian parliament, the Russian leader said attempts to
equally blame Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union for the beginning of WW2 are
“disgusting”.
"Europe failed to deter the Third Reich. A number of states supported and even
fought for the Hitler regime. Some countries chose collaboration and helped the
Hitler military machinery with supplies,”Medvedev said.
He went on to say, “The responsibility of those political administrations is
also obvious: the number of victims of the Nazis might have been much smaller
if not for their support."
"Everyone, especially those who are trying to rewrite history for their
advantage, must remember that,”Medvedev stated.
The Russian leader said “Distorting history is an unpleasant or even disgusting
business”. He added that Russia considers such attempts “as disregarding the
Nuremberg Trials and a blasphemy as regards victims of the most terrible war of
the 20th century."
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