Kosovo debate moves to Contact Group

Kosovo debate moves to Contact Group

Instead, the Western sponsors of the resolution decided to pursue negotiations between Belgrade and Priština in the Contact Group of advisors on the Balkans. But there is no plan on what to do if those talks fail.

Following the end of consultations held at the UN Security Council behind closed doors, France's UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere read a statement on behalf of the resolution's sponsors, the United States, Britain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and France.

“We believe that UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari’s recommendations, which UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon fully endorsed, are fair and balanced and provide the best solution that will advance stability not only in Kosovo but in the region as a whole,” the statement reads.

Sabliere reminded in the statement of efforts in the Council put towards moving forward with the resolution.

“We have worked intensively to achieve a resolution that would allow for this proposal to be taken forward. We have received broad support in the Council for these efforts. The Council itself took a trip to the region to become better acquainted with the situation.”

"We regret that it has been impossible to secure such a resolution in the United Nations Security Council. We will therefore put on hold discussions on the resolution," said a statement.

The France’s ambassador also recalled a recent statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who said that "if Kosovo's future status remained undefined, there was a real risk that the progress achieved by the United Nations and the provisional Institutions in Kosovo can begin to unravel."

“The people of Kosovo should be given the opportunity to realize their political and economic development,” the statement said, adding that a timely resolving of the province's status will also “enable Serbia to move beyond the conflicts of the 1990s and towards a brighter European and Euro-Atlantic future.”

The statement ended with an assertion on the part of the resolution’s sponsors that "resolving Kosovo's status must be achieved as soon as possible.”

Churkin: No pause in diplomatic activity

"Russia was not prepared to support this draft resolution and ...was not prepared to abstain if this draft were put to vote," Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.

He said Russia called for a pause for continued active consultations in the UN and was glad that the Western sponsors "did accept the possibility and need for further negotiations between the parties."

"There is going to be no pause in diplomatic and political activity around this issue," Churkin told reporters.

He said Moscow will continue to participate in the process actively, and will attend the Contact Group meeting in Vienna on July 25, adding that the issue would return to the Council if a compromise was reached.

European Union foreign ministers will discuss Kosovo at their meeting on July 23.

Churkin denied accusations that Moscow was prolonging the "dangerous status quo" in Kosovo.

"We are not delaying anything. We are preventing a solution ... which will be detrimental to international law and to the stability of the Balkans and internationally."

Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya, the Security Council's president for July, said the parties directly concerned should be given more time to conduct negotiations.

"If you want to see a solution, it has to be a negotiated solution between the two parties. If they come to an agreement, we are ready to respect their wishes," Wang said.

"If there is no agreement, it would be difficult for China to agree that the Security Council impose a solution on them."

"Whatever actions the Security Council takes will have serious implications, not only for the region but also for other countries as well," he added.