Russia rejects trade-offs on Kosovo, Iran and CFE
The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed on Wednesday the possibility of a package swap of concessions between Russia and the U.S. over the issue of anti-ballistic missile defense, Iran and Kosovo.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, November 08, 2007
"I see no way in which one situation can be exchanged for the other," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said.
He denied reports the U.S. had invited Russia to make concessions over Iran and Kosovo, promising to reconsider its position over a future anti-missile defense in exchange.
"There are separate, fundamental positions on all of these problems both in Russia and in the U.S. Each of these questions requires an independent solution," Kislyak said.
"In Kosovo the future of the territory's people and the future of Europe's legal regimen are at stake," the Russian diplomat stressed.
Also on Wednesday, the Russian Parliament passed a law through which Moscow is putting a moratorium on the implementation of the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE).
The moratorium will come into effect in the night between December 12 and 13, and the decision of its termination will be made by the Russian president.
Explaining the document, Putin said that Russia would cease implementing the agreement "until the NATO member states ratify the agreement and start conscientiously implementing the document."
Certain Western media have recently claimed that the U.S. could offer Russia concessions over the CFE if Russia agreed to the introduction of sanctions against Iran and the independence of Kosovo.
