Kostunica urges US to give up on “independent” Kosovo, Russia blasts US for “irresponsibility”
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica called the United States on Sunday to annul its decision to recognize an “independent” Kosovo, saying that such a move by Washington would restore the basic principle of international law in Balkans.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, February 25, 2008
"The U.S. have to annul the decision to recognize a false state on the territory of Serbia, and create conditions for the United Nations Security Council to confirm the authority of Resolution 1244, which guarantees Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Kostunica said.
"This is the right way to reestablish the basic principle of international law and the UN Charter in Balkans," Kostunica said.
Kostunica said that U.S.' adamant baking of Kosovo's statehood would only led to broader crisis in Balkans, that could undermine the foundations of the world order, peace and stability.
His remarks came just a day before top Russian delegation, led by President Vladimir Putin's most likely successor Dmitry Medvedev is scheduled to arrive to Belgrade, for a series of Kosovo-related talks with Serbia's top ranking officials.
Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are also scheduled to meet Kostunica and Serbian President Boris Tadic.
Lavrov's ministry on Sunday blasted the United States with criticism over latest developments in Kosovo crisis, calling the Washington's explanations for its support for province's independence "cynical" and "irresponsible".
"Support of single, Kosovo Albanian side, negligence of law in favor of the so-called political expediency, indifference to the fate of 100,000 Serbs who are actually being driven into the ghetto in the 21st century, is nothing else but open cynicism," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
In the strongly-worded response to the State Departments No.3 Nicholas Burns' statement on Kosovo, issued over the weekend, Moscow blamed Washington for trying to break Serbia apart, warning the U.S. of fueling separatist's movements worldwide.
"We do not need to be spurred to make responsible statements on Kosovo, as Mr. Burns is trying to say. We are making precisely such statements when we tell the truth, when we call things by their real name, honestly warning of the destructive consequences of stimulating separatism, and directly pointing to those who are acting to bring down the world order," Moscow said.
