“Belgrade’s position eroded”

Goran Svilanovic says that “Belgrade’s position was eroded” at the last UN Security Council meeting. The former foreign minister told B92 that there would be more discussions over Kosovo’s status, and that nothing had been resolved at this week’s meeting in New York. “Belgrade’s position eroded” Svilanovic said that his opinion was based on statements by Javier Solana, who said that Europe had to take more responsibility for Kosovo and possibly call for more dialogue. Svilanovic said that nothing had been accomplished at the meeting on Wednesday. No basic agreement on status was reached nor was a legal basis for sending a European Union mission to Kosovo confirmed. “The Security Council discussed whether a technical resolution could be adopted. That would not call for a change to Resolution 1244, which speaks of status, but the adoption of a new document that would enable the UNMIK mission to be replaced in its entirety by a European one – that seems to be the cleanest legal solution,” he said, stating, however, that Russia would probably not agree to such a move. Svilanovic expects continued Kosovo negotiations within the Security Council on another level. However, he said that Belgrade’s entire position on Kosovo’s status had been undermined by allowing Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu to speak at Wednesday’s meeting. “Never before has a prime minister or president of Kosovo been invited to enter the Security Council room. Never has anyone been called who does not represent a sovereign country, a UN member state or a UN mission – that has never happened. It might not be pleasant for Serbia, but its position has been eroded,” Svilanovic said. Goran Svilanovic (FoNet archive)

“Belgrade’s position eroded”

Svilanović said that his opinion was based on statements by Javier Solana, who said that Europe had to take more responsibility for Kosovo and possibly call for more dialogue.

Svilanović said that nothing had been accomplished at the meeting on Wednesday. No basic agreement on status was reached nor was a legal basis for sending a European Union mission to Kosovo confirmed.

“The Security Council discussed whether a technical resolution could be adopted. That would not call for a change to Resolution 1244, which speaks of status, but the adoption of a new document that would enable the UNMIK mission to be replaced in its entirety by a European one – that seems to be the cleanest legal solution,” he said, stating, however, that Russia would probably not agree to such a move.

Svilanović expects continued Kosovo negotiations within the Security Council on another level. However, he said that Belgrade’s entire position on Kosovo’s status had been undermined by allowing Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu to speak at Wednesday’s meeting.

“Never before has a prime minister or president of Kosovo been invited to enter the Security Council room. Never has anyone been called who does not represent a sovereign country, a UN member state or a UN mission – that has never happened. It might not be pleasant for Serbia, but its position has been eroded,” Svilanović said.