UNSC: Russia, China warn Kosovo against unilateral declaration of independence
Russia stood firm behind Serbia on Wednesday, warning Kosovo Albanians that their plan to unilaterally declare independency would eventually reach the dead-end, because Moscow plans to block their accession to major international political organizations, including the United Nations.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, January 17, 2008
Meanwhile, China said it worried about the unilateral declaration of independence, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular press conference on Thursday.
"The Chinese side believes that finding a solution acceptable to both Serbia and the Kosovo Provisional Institutions of Self-Government is the best way out, and the international community should continue making efforts in this direction." the spokeswoman said.
The warnings came as UN Security Council gathered to discuss the current situation in Kosovo, but the debate swiftly moved to the controversial status issue, with United States and Great Britain firmly supporting province's secession from Serbia.
"Legally speaking, any unilateral declaration of independence by Pristina has to be declared null and void by the head of the UN mission there because it violates the UN resolution 1244 and the UN Charter," Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters.
Instead, the Security Council should prepare a "roadmap" which would create the basis for negotiated outcome of Kosovo crisis, with simultaneous moves towards the European Union by both Belgrade and Pristina and further talks on the future status of the troubled province.
"Going down the way of unilateral moves, Kosovo is not going to join the ranks of fully recognized members of the international community," Churkin.
"Kosovo may get some recognitions, regrettably, but it's not going to come to this building as full-fledged member of the international community. It's not going to be able to join other political international institutions."
Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam also affirmed the country's support for a lasting solution for the issue of Kosovo.
"Any solution of the Kosovo issue will affect not only peace and stability in the Balkans, but also in Europe and the world", he said, adding that any such solution must be based on the fundamental principles of international law, the UN Charter, among them the principles of respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in conformity with relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolution 1244.
However, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said that the times for negotiations on New York's East River have passed last December, concentrating, rather to a series of friendly massages aimed towards Serbia.
"We hear and respect the stance of Belgrade. But, we appeal on Serbia to act wisely despite obvious difficulties which will follow...We are offering our friendship. Historically, we have always had good relations with Serbia and we see no reason not to continue along that path," Khalilzad said.
"Serbia would never recognize Kosovo's independence...We would use all legal arguments and diplomacy to protect our territorial integrity," Serbian President Boris Tadic said, threatening unspecified actions should the province unilaterally declare independence soon.
"If any violence were to break out in Kosovo, and if Kfor could not react and protect the Serbs in an appropriate way, we are ready, and I underline with the agreement of competent international institutions and exactly in respect for international law, to help and provide protection to the threatened population," Tadic said.
But, the newly appointed province's Prime Minister and former guerrilla chief Hashim Thaci told the 15-nation body that the time has come for the final solution of Kosovo's status, which he called "the last open issue in violent breakup of former Yugoslavia."
"We are ready for the independence...As soon as we do our homework," Thaci told reporters, dodging a number of questions related to the timeframe of expected unilateral declaration of independence.
The head of UN mission in Kosovo, Joachim Ruecker whose report raised a loud protests from Russia and South Africa, also refrained from comments related to the status issue, saying that the province is "ready for the next step, simply because the capacity of UNMIK has been exhausted."
