Russia's UN envoy urges new Kosovo talks

Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, has expressed his belief that only a new dialog could produce a long-term solution for Kosovo's status. "Russia supports renewed negotiations between Serb and (ethnic) Albanian leaderships, and I truly believe they will be renewed," said the diplomat. Russia's UN envoy urges new Kosovo talks Kosovo's Albanians unilaterally declared independence over two years ago, but Belgrade rejected this as an illegal act of secession. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to rule next week on the legality under international law of that proclamation. Speaking for Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti in Moscow, Churkin said that that it was important for the UN Security Council to control the situation in Kosovo, and stressed that a long-term solution for the province's status has yet to be found. He expressed hope that the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina would accept the Serbian offer to engage in new talks on Kosovo's status. "That is the only reasonable approach, and that road can lead to a long-term solution that would satisfy both sides," Churkin was quoted as saying. The Russian envoy to the UN did not wish to make any predictions on the outcome of the ICJ case, but noted that Russia backed Serbia when the country sought to send the case to the court. "Our position is clear: Russia remains opposed to the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo. That was our statement to the court (ICJ): we presented our stance that the territory of Kosovo and Metohija is a sovereign part of Serbia," said Churkin. Asked about international activities after the Hague-based UN court reveals its advisory opinion on Kosovo, he said that when Russia takes over as the presiding country at the UN Security Council in August, "this will be a chance to discuss Kosovo again". On August 3, Churkin added, the council will debate a new report on Kosovo, that will be submitted by the UN secretary-general. "It's a good thing to arrive at a more realistic picture, so I still believe others too will realize that negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina should be renewed," the Russian diplomat was quoted. As for his country's request regarding another Hague-based court - that set up to deal with war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia - when Moscow asked for the tribunal to shut down, Churkin said that the request had not been accepted because former political leader of Bosnian Serbs Radovan Karadzic was "arrested late, and his Hague trial will be protracted". The ambassador stated that Karadzic's trial would continue into the 2012, "and there will be appeals". "The overall experience related to the (Hague) Tribunal raises many questions. Everyone's understands by now that the Tribunal's work is expensive and bloated, but the balance of power is such that it (the court) will certainly finish the Karadzic trial," concluded Churkin. Vitaly Churkin (FoNet, file)

Russia's UN envoy urges new Kosovo talks

Kosovo's Albanians unilaterally declared independence over two years ago, but Belgrade rejected this as an illegal act of secession. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to rule next week on the legality under international law of that proclamation.

Speaking for Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti in Moscow, Churkin said that that it was important for the UN Security Council to control the situation in Kosovo, and stressed that a long-term solution for the province's status has yet to be found.

He expressed hope that the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština would accept the Serbian offer to engage in new talks on Kosovo's status.

"That is the only reasonable approach, and that road can lead to a long-term solution that would satisfy both sides," Churkin was quoted as saying.

The Russian envoy to the UN did not wish to make any predictions on the outcome of the ICJ case, but noted that Russia backed Serbia when the country sought to send the case to the court.

"Our position is clear: Russia remains opposed to the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo. That was our statement to the court (ICJ): we presented our stance that the territory of Kosovo and Metohija is a sovereign part of Serbia," said Churkin.

Asked about international activities after the Hague-based UN court reveals its advisory opinion on Kosovo, he said that when Russia takes over as the presiding country at the UN Security Council in August, "this will be a chance to discuss Kosovo again".

On August 3, Churkin added, the council will debate a new report on Kosovo, that will be submitted by the UN secretary-general.

"It's a good thing to arrive at a more realistic picture, so I still believe others too will realize that negotiations between Belgrade and Priština should be renewed," the Russian diplomat was quoted.

As for his country's request regarding another Hague-based court - that set up to deal with war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia - when Moscow asked for the tribunal to shut down, Churkin said that the request had not been accepted because former political leader of Bosnian Serbs Radovan Karadžić was "arrested late, and his Hague trial will be protracted".

The ambassador stated that Karadžić's trial would continue into the 2012, "and there will be appeals".

"The overall experience related to the (Hague) Tribunal raises many questions. Everyone's understands by now that the Tribunal's work is expensive and bloated, but the balance of power is such that it (the court) will certainly finish the Karadžić trial," concluded Churkin.