Moscow: No deadlines in Kosovo talks

A senior Russian official has ruled out the possibility of the setting up of an independent state in Kosovo. “I believe even less in the setting up of a NATO state in the territory of Kosovo-Metohija," Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Duma, told daily Vecernje Novosti. Moscow: No deadlines in Kosovo talks Commenting on the recent statements of the government ministers of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) that the United States, should "give up the creation of a NATO state in Kosovo," Kosachev said “Russia will never let that happen for it runs against international law.” Kosachev, whom the newspaper described as one of the main creators of Russian policy towards Kosovo, said that official Moscow expected to see direct negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina. “This is the most efficient format of negotiations,” the Russian official said. “Nonetheless, before arranging direct negotiations, certain conditions have to be met first, the main one being the absence of all previous conditions." "To be even more precise, it means Pristina has to finally realize and accept the fact that Kosovo’s status has not been determined.” Kosachev was also clear about Russia’s unequivocal objection to setting any deadlines during renewed negotiations. “The Palestine issue has taken several decades to resolve. The process is still ongoing and no one makes a tragedy out of the fact that the solution for Palestine was not reached by a set deadline,” he reminded, pointing to the fact that the problem of northern Cyprus had been present for years. “Kosovo should be no exception. Negotiations should last as long as it takes for both sides to reach a compromise. Therefore, Russia’s stance is clear—no deadlines whatsoever,” Kosachev underlined. He rejected the dilemmas as to whether official Moscow would persist in its present position, following speculation that Russia was pursuing such a policy towards Kosovo only to trade with the West: “This is a principled strategic support which Russia will not give up.“ The Russian official also assessed that the relations between Belgrade and Moscow were at the highest level ever since the Second World War. “All that has been happening over the last decade proves that our friendship is strong,” he said. “It is very important that our relations are not concentrated only on the issue of Kosovo, but are a lot wider than that,“ Kosachev concluded.

Moscow: No deadlines in Kosovo talks

Commenting on the recent statements of the government ministers of Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) that the United States, should "give up the creation of a NATO state in Kosovo," Kosachev said “Russia will never let that happen for it runs against international law.”

Kosachev, whom the newspaper described as one of the main creators of Russian policy towards Kosovo, said that official Moscow expected to see direct negotiations between Belgrade and Priština.

“This is the most efficient format of negotiations,” the Russian official said.

“Nonetheless, before arranging direct negotiations, certain conditions have to be met first, the main one being the absence of all previous conditions."

"To be even more precise, it means Priština has to finally realize and accept the fact that Kosovo’s status has not been determined.”

Kosachev was also clear about Russia’s unequivocal objection to setting any deadlines during renewed negotiations.

“The Palestine issue has taken several decades to resolve. The process is still ongoing and no one makes a tragedy out of the fact that the solution for Palestine was not reached by a set deadline,” he reminded, pointing to the fact that the problem of northern Cyprus had been present for years.

“Kosovo should be no exception. Negotiations should last as long as it takes for both sides to reach a compromise. Therefore, Russia’s stance is clear—no deadlines whatsoever,” Kosachev underlined.

He rejected the dilemmas as to whether official Moscow would persist in its present position, following speculation that Russia was pursuing such a policy towards Kosovo only to trade with the West: “This is a principled strategic support which Russia will not give up.“

The Russian official also assessed that the relations between Belgrade and Moscow were at the highest level ever since the Second World War.

“All that has been happening over the last decade proves that our friendship is strong,” he said.

“It is very important that our relations are not concentrated only on the issue of Kosovo, but are a lot wider than that,“ Kosachev concluded.