Security Council still deadlocked over Kosovo

Six out of 15 UN Security Council members support Kosovo's independence, B92 has learned. Other member countries are either against such an outcome to the province's status crisis, or abstained, it has emerged after Wednesday's session in New York. Security Council still deadlocked over Kosovo The ambassadors of the Security Council’s member-states discussed the situation in the province and UNMIK Chief Joachim Ruecker’s progress report on the work of the UN’s civil mission. Nothing ground-breaking however was expected from these meetings, as they merely formed part of regular consultations, and the very fact that the ambassadors required three meetings just to agree on the session’s format shows that the divisions within the UN SC over the issue of Kosovo are as insuperable as ever. The session was open to the public during President Boris Tadic’s address, after which the debate continued behind closed doors. During the closed part of the session, Ruecker presented his tri-monthly report on UNMIK’s work, before newly-appointed Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci addressed the hall. Thaci told the council that Kosovo has laid the foundations to be a "democratic state and independence is a first step to regional success and our integration in the European family," according to a copy of his speech, carried by the AP. Later, he told reporters "very soon we will take a decision, and we hope that very soon [the] international community will recognize us — Washington, Britain and other states." After the Dec. 19 Security Council debate, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad declared the views of the two sides "irreconcilable," and said it was time for an independent Kosovo, a stand backed by Britain, France and most members of the European Union. On Wednesday, Khalilzad told reporters: "We know where we are heading. There is no change with regard to the fact that the council is blocked." Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said that the future of Kosovo is a Security Council issue — not an EU issue — and said council members should prepare a roadmap that would "create dynamics that in our view would lead to a negotiated outcome." "We are respectful of the interest of the European Union to enhance its role in Kosovo, but that should not replace an international effort to find a mutually acceptable solution," he said. Russia's Churkin said he told the council that "legally speaking, any unilateral declaration of independence by Pristina should be declared null and void by the head of the U.N. mission there" because it violates the 1999 U.N. resolution and the U.N. Charter. He made clear that Russia, which has veto power in the Security Council, would block any attempt by an independent Kosovo to become a member of the United Nations. "Going down the way of unilateral moves, Kosovo is not going to join the ranks of fully recognized members of the international community," he said. "It may get some recognitions, regrettably ... but it's not going to come to this building as full-fledged member of the international community. It's not going to be able to join other political international institutions," the AP reported from New York. B92 understands that, during the closed part of the session, all the Security Council ambassadors asked to take part in the discussion. The interest that the debate stirred is evidenced by the fact that over 40 countries who are not members of the UNSC asked to watch proceedings. The UN Security Council in session Wednesday (Tanjug)

Security Council still deadlocked over Kosovo

The ambassadors of the Security Council’s member-states discussed the situation in the province and UNMIK Chief Joachim Ruecker’s progress report on the work of the UN’s civil mission.

Nothing ground-breaking however was expected from these meetings, as they merely formed part of regular consultations, and the very fact that the ambassadors required three meetings just to agree on the session’s format shows that the divisions within the UN SC over the issue of Kosovo are as insuperable as ever.

The session was open to the public during President Boris Tadić’s address, after which the debate continued behind closed doors.

During the closed part of the session, Ruecker presented his tri-monthly report on UNMIK’s work, before newly-appointed Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci addressed the hall.

Thaci told the council that Kosovo has laid the foundations to be a "democratic state and independence is a first step to regional success and our integration in the European family," according to a copy of his speech, carried by the AP.

Later, he told reporters "very soon we will take a decision, and we hope that very soon [the] international community will recognize us — Washington, Britain and other states."

After the Dec. 19 Security Council debate, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad declared the views of the two sides "irreconcilable," and said it was time for an independent Kosovo, a stand backed by Britain, France and most members of the European Union.

On Wednesday, Khalilzad told reporters: "We know where we are heading. There is no change with regard to the fact that the council is blocked."

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said that the future of Kosovo is a Security Council issue — not an EU issue — and said council members should prepare a roadmap that would "create dynamics that in our view would lead to a negotiated outcome."

"We are respectful of the interest of the European Union to enhance its role in Kosovo, but that should not replace an international effort to find a mutually acceptable solution," he said.

Russia's Churkin said he told the council that "legally speaking, any unilateral declaration of independence by Pristina should be declared null and void by the head of the U.N. mission there" because it violates the 1999 U.N. resolution and the U.N. Charter.

He made clear that Russia, which has veto power in the Security Council, would block any attempt by an independent Kosovo to become a member of the United Nations.

"Going down the way of unilateral moves, Kosovo is not going to join the ranks of fully recognized members of the international community," he said.

"It may get some recognitions, regrettably ... but it's not going to come to this building as full-fledged member of the international community. It's not going to be able to join other political international institutions," the AP reported from New York.

B92 understands that, during the closed part of the session, all the Security Council ambassadors asked to take part in the discussion.

The interest that the debate stirred is evidenced by the fact that over 40 countries who are not members of the UNSC asked to watch proceedings.