Russia: UN must annul unilateral moves

Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, spoke to Tanjug Friday via video link. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 does not permit a unilateral proclamation of the independence of Kosovo, Churkin said. Russia: UN must annul unilateral moves "In the event that independence is nevertheless proclaimed unilaterally, the legal consequences of this act could be annulled by the UN secretary-general or his representative in Kosovo, the UNMIK chief," the Russian diplomat explained his country's position. Churkin also said that the European Union (EU) could not send a mission to Kosovo without the approval of the UN Security Council. "That is not possible without the corresponding decision of the UN Security Council," he said. The Russian ambassador reiterated that Moscow urges a continuation of the negotiations. During the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, held under auspices of the Contact Group Troika, Serbia offered an unprecedented autonomy with wide authority for the Kosovo Albanians, Churkin said. "International law must be respected. Serbia deserves respect, as one of the founders of the UN," he pointed out. The diplomat also added that Kosovo's possible independence would have repercussions in different parts of the world, with numerous separatist movements. Churkin also reiterated that Moscow will accept any outcome on which Pristina and Belgrade agree. Also Friday, Reuters reported from New York that world powers reached a compromise to allow representatives of Kosovo Albanians to speak at the UN Security Council meeting next week. European Union leaders said after a one-day summit that negotiations on Kosovo's future were exhausted, the status quo was untenable and there was a need to move toward a Kosovo settlement. They stopped short of endorsing independence. The Security Council will meet on Wednesday to discuss this month's report by a Troika of mediators, the EU, Russia and the United States, which said four months of talks had failed to reach a deal with no compromise on either side. Serbia has asked the council to ensure Kosovo Albanians will not be allowed to speak at Wednesday's meeting because they do not represent a state. Security Council diplomats have been wrangling over the issue for days with Western countries trying to avoid pushing it to a vote that would have been potentially divisive. "Knowing that they would lose a vote, Russia took the initiative," one EU diplomat said after the council held informal consultations. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin proposed inviting Fatmir Sejdiu, president of the semi-autonomous province, to speak under a rule allowing non-state individuals to be invited to participate in Security Council debates. Diplomats said he asked council members to be consistent when they deal with such issues, in particular the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, which has forged close ties to Russia since a 1992-93 war. "I am pleased that the Council has accepted the Russian proposal for the format of that meeting," Churkin told reporters. He said Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Sejdiu would be invited under two different rules. "It will be clear that the political standing of the two parties participating in the discussion is completely different." Wednesday's meeting is not expected to produce any concrete outcome such as a resolution or even a statement. "What we can expect from that meeting is it will make it clear we can't decide at the Security Council," the EU diplomat said. "The Security Council is divided. It's not able to decide, so the underlying message, I think, would be now action moves to Brussels and to the EU." Vitaly Churkin (Tanjug)

Russia: UN must annul unilateral moves

"In the event that independence is nevertheless proclaimed unilaterally, the legal consequences of this act could be annulled by the UN secretary-general or his representative in Kosovo, the UNMIK chief," the Russian diplomat explained his country's position.

Churkin also said that the European Union (EU) could not send a mission to Kosovo without the approval of the UN Security Council.

"That is not possible without the corresponding decision of the UN Security Council," he said.

The Russian ambassador reiterated that Moscow urges a continuation of the negotiations.

During the negotiations between Belgrade and Priština, held under auspices of the Contact Group Troika, Serbia offered an unprecedented autonomy with wide authority for the Kosovo Albanians, Churkin said.

"International law must be respected. Serbia deserves respect, as one of the founders of the UN," he pointed out.

The diplomat also added that Kosovo's possible independence would have repercussions in different parts of the world, with numerous separatist movements.

Churkin also reiterated that Moscow will accept any outcome on which Priština and Belgrade agree.

Also Friday, Reuters reported from New York that world powers reached a compromise to allow representatives of Kosovo Albanians to speak at the UN Security Council meeting next week.

European Union leaders said after a one-day summit that negotiations on Kosovo's future were exhausted, the status quo was untenable and there was a need to move toward a Kosovo settlement. They stopped short of endorsing independence.

The Security Council will meet on Wednesday to discuss this month's report by a Troika of mediators, the EU, Russia and the United States, which said four months of talks had failed to reach a deal with no compromise on either side.

Serbia has asked the council to ensure Kosovo Albanians will not be allowed to speak at Wednesday's meeting because they do not represent a state.

Security Council diplomats have been wrangling over the issue for days with Western countries trying to avoid pushing it to a vote that would have been potentially divisive.

"Knowing that they would lose a vote, Russia took the initiative," one EU diplomat said after the council held informal consultations.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin proposed inviting Fatmir Sejdiu, president of the semi-autonomous province, to speak under a rule allowing non-state individuals to be invited to participate in Security Council debates.

Diplomats said he asked council members to be consistent when they deal with such issues, in particular the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, which has forged close ties to Russia since a 1992-93 war.

"I am pleased that the Council has accepted the Russian proposal for the format of that meeting," Churkin told reporters.

He said Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica and Sejdiu would be invited under two different rules.

"It will be clear that the political standing of the two parties participating in the discussion is completely different."

Wednesday's meeting is not expected to produce any concrete outcome such as a resolution or even a statement.

"What we can expect from that meeting is it will make it clear we can't decide at the Security Council," the EU diplomat said.

"The Security Council is divided. It's not able to decide, so the underlying message, I think, would be now action moves to Brussels and to the EU."