Lavrov: Only UN can make Kosovo decision

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov said late on Sunday that only the UN Security Council could reach a decision on Kosovo. Any possible unilateral moves were in contradiction with Resolution 1244 and were not based on international law, the undermining of which, as he put it, was very risky. Lavrov: Only UN can make Kosovo decision Lavrov pointed to the fact that some were trying to breach Resolution 1244, which was "not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever". “To achieve success, it's important not to search for who is guilty but, rather, stimulate the sides towards a search for compromise," the Russian minister said in Nicosia, after his meeting with Cyprian Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Itar Tass reported. According to Lavrov, Rusia holds that Belgrade and Pristina should be given additional time, "so that agreement could be reached on the way in which the situation could be resolved." "Artificial deadlines, which are set by a third party or one of the sides in the negotiations, cannot function as regards the settlement of the Cyprian issue, and I am convinced that it will not function in case of Kosovo either," the Russian chief of diplomacy said, commenting on the statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that the Cyprus issue should be resolved in 2008.

Lavrov: Only UN can make Kosovo decision

Lavrov pointed to the fact that some were trying to breach Resolution 1244, which was "not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever".

“To achieve success, it's important not to search for who is guilty but, rather, stimulate the sides towards a search for compromise," the Russian minister said in Nicosia, after his meeting with Cyprian Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Itar Tass reported.

According to Lavrov, Rusia holds that Belgrade and Priština should be given additional time, "so that agreement could be reached on the way in which the situation could be resolved."

"Artificial deadlines, which are set by a third party or one of the sides in the negotiations, cannot function as regards the settlement of the Cyprian issue, and I am convinced that it will not function in case of Kosovo either," the Russian chief of diplomacy said, commenting on the statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that the Cyprus issue should be resolved in 2008.