Ukraine reaffirms stance over Kosovo

Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister Vladimir Handogy stated that the official Kiev will not recognize Kosovo. He pointed out that his country supports unconditional abidance by the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Ukraine reaffirms stance over Kosovo Handogy conferred on Monday with Serbian Ambassador to Ukraine Dusan Lazic and informed him that Ukraine will not change its stand regarding Kosovo. The minister pointed out that the resolution of the Kosovo issue cannot be treated as a precedent for solving other ethnic conflicts. The Ukrainian official noted that his country is willing to participate in a constructive debate on the resolution on Kosovo within the framework of the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly. Lazic informed Handogy of Serbia's stand after the advisory opinion which the International Court of Justice issued on July 22. The Serbian ambassador also delivered a letter which Serbian President Boris Tadic addressed to his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian media reported. Meanwhile in Pristina, it has been announced that the Kosovo Albanian government had sent a letter to the Islamic Organization Conference (IOC) and the Arab League (AL) calling for new recognitions. “After confirming the right of Kosovo to independence by the International Court of Justice, the time has come for countries to begin formally recognizing it,” Skender Hyseni, appointed by the government in Pristina as the foreign minister, writes in the letter. He addressed it to the secretary generals of both organizations, the IOC’s Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and AL’s Amr Moussa. Albanian news agency ATA reported that Hyseni asked Ihsanoglu and Moussa to use their authority and influence the member-states of their organizations to recognize Kosovo. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said in its advisory opinion on Kosovo issued last month that, as there was no active provision in international law prohibiting UDIs, the Kosovo Albanian declaration did not violate international law. The top UN court did not rule on the right to secession and self-determination. The advisory opinion will now be sent to the UN General Assembly, that will also debate a draft Serbian resolution as it meets in New York in September. Belgrade rejects the Kosovo Albanian unilateral proclamation as an illegal act of secession.

Ukraine reaffirms stance over Kosovo

Handogy conferred on Monday with Serbian Ambassador to Ukraine Dušan Lazić and informed him that Ukraine will not change its stand regarding Kosovo. The minister pointed out that the resolution of the Kosovo issue cannot be treated as a precedent for solving other ethnic conflicts.

The Ukrainian official noted that his country is willing to participate in a constructive debate on the resolution on Kosovo within the framework of the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly.

Lazić informed Handogy of Serbia's stand after the advisory opinion which the International Court of Justice issued on July 22.

The Serbian ambassador also delivered a letter which Serbian President Boris Tadić addressed to his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian media reported.

Meanwhile in Priština, it has been announced that the Kosovo Albanian government had sent a letter to the Islamic Organization Conference (IOC) and the Arab League (AL) calling for new recognitions.

“After confirming the right of Kosovo to independence by the International Court of Justice, the time has come for countries to begin formally recognizing it,” Skender Hyseni, appointed by the government in Priština as the foreign minister, writes in the letter.

He addressed it to the secretary generals of both organizations, the IOC’s Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and AL’s Amr Moussa.

Albanian news agency ATA reported that Hyseni asked Ihsanoglu and Moussa to use their authority and influence the member-states of their organizations to recognize Kosovo.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said in its advisory opinion on Kosovo issued last month that, as there was no active provision in international law prohibiting UDIs, the Kosovo Albanian declaration did not violate international law.

The top UN court did not rule on the right to secession and self-determination.

The advisory opinion will now be sent to the UN General Assembly, that will also debate a draft Serbian resolution as it meets in New York in September.

Belgrade rejects the Kosovo Albanian unilateral proclamation as an illegal act of secession.