Washington is provoking instability in Europe
Washington is provoking instability in Europe by supporting the secession of Kosovo, likely new Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Wednesday, February 27, 2008
"The U.S. decisions are putting Europe in a very difficult position. We understand that the U.S. is not risking anything, it is far away", Medvedev said.
Medveded also said that Kosovo would Moscow would not "sit and wait" as some Western countries continue to push for Kosovo's secession.
In Washington, U.S. scholar on Russian affairs Dimitri Simes said that by actively promoting Kosovo's independence and sidestepping the United Nations Washington is violating international law and alienating Russia.
"I think what we have done [in sponsoring and recognizing Kosovo's independence] was wrong and counterproductive," said Simes. "And it contradicts the Helsinki final act [1975] that we are using everyday to criticize Russia and others on human rights violations. But the Helsinki final act, of course, was not just about human rights but about territorial integrity of European states."
Simes, who heads the Nixon Center-a Washington-based non-governmental agency that examines global security issues, says the United States has acted arbitrarily in choosing to set aside a U.N. resolution.
"Without changing this resolution, the dismembering of Serbia in no way complies with international law," he said.
Simes says Kosovo's secession from Serbia sets a precedent.
