Sarkozy: Kosovo is special case

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says that Kosovo cannot set a precedent for South Ossetia or Abkhazia. Kosovo is a special case because years of United Nations-mediated negotiations took place regarding the issue, Sarkozy said at yesterday’s EU summit in Brussels. Sarkozy: Kosovo is special case “They tell me that a Kosovo precedent exists. But before we decided to recognize Kosovo, years and years of UN-mediated negotiations had passed,” Sarkozy told a press conference held after the summit. “I reminded Russian President Dmity Medvedev that when Europe recognized Kosovo, Russia condemned Europe’s decision. Russia should not then be surprised that we are condemning its decision now,” the president said. “We must be consistent,” he said, adding that the EU supported Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as these were guaranteed by UN Security Council resolutions. Sarkozy said that it was “good” that Medvedev accepted the principle of the return of all refugees to their homes, including those who fled in the early 1990s. “We cannot accept ethnic cleansing by either side,” the French president said. The EU has strongly condemned Russia’s “unilateral decision” to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, stating that such a decision is “unacceptable” and has called on other countries to refrain from following Moscow’s example. “The decision is unacceptable, and the EU calls on other countries not to recognize this proclaimed independence, and is calling on the Commission to investigate all possible, practical repercussions,” the EU stated. The EU “reiterates that a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Georgia must be based on the full respect of the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity that recognize international law, the Helsinki Final Act and UN Security Council resolutions.” According to the summit declaration, “all European countries have the right to freely choose their foreign policies and their alliances, while respecting international law, and the principles of good neighborly relations and peaceful cooperation.” EU state leaders have decided to postpone negotiations regarding a new strategic partnership between the EU and Russia until Moscow pulls its troops out of Georgia, back to the pre-conflict positions of August 7. (FoNet)

Sarkozy: Kosovo is special case

“They tell me that a Kosovo precedent exists. But before we decided to recognize Kosovo, years and years of UN-mediated negotiations had passed,” Sarkozy told a press conference held after the summit.

“I reminded Russian President Dmity Medvedev that when Europe recognized Kosovo, Russia condemned Europe’s decision. Russia should not then be surprised that we are condemning its decision now,” the president said.

“We must be consistent,” he said, adding that the EU supported Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as these were guaranteed by UN Security Council resolutions.

Sarkozy said that it was “good” that Medvedev accepted the principle of the return of all refugees to their homes, including those who fled in the early 1990s.

“We cannot accept ethnic cleansing by either side,” the French president said.

The EU has strongly condemned Russia’s “unilateral decision” to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, stating that such a decision is “unacceptable” and has called on other countries to refrain from following Moscow’s example.

“The decision is unacceptable, and the EU calls on other countries not to recognize this proclaimed independence, and is calling on the Commission to investigate all possible, practical repercussions,” the EU stated.

The EU “reiterates that a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Georgia must be based on the full respect of the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity that recognize international law, the Helsinki Final Act and UN Security Council resolutions.”

According to the summit declaration, “all European countries have the right to freely choose their foreign policies and their alliances, while respecting international law, and the principles of good neighborly relations and peaceful cooperation.”

EU state leaders have decided to postpone negotiations regarding a new strategic partnership between the EU and Russia until Moscow pulls its troops out of Georgia, back to the pre-conflict positions of August 7.