| Russia: U.S. pressuring UN, EU |
| 29 January 2008 | 09:13 -> 17:18
| Source:
Beta, Tanjug |
MOSCOW --
Russian Foreign Ministry Tuesday reacted to what it described as "backstage preparations" for an EU mission in Kosovo.
Ministry Spokesman Mikhail Kamynin expressed Moscow's "serious concern".
He said that these activities include "direct pressure on the UN secretary-general and the European Union presidency."
"Without participation of the UN Security Council, preparations for an EU mission in Kosovo and strengthening of the military component of the peace-keeping forces in Kosovo are being carried out," Kamynski was quoted.
"We expect the UN secretary-general and our partners to grasp the tragic consequences of unilateral scenarios and actions that violate the UN Charter, and that they will withhold from moves that imply a precedent that would be destructive to the system of international relations," said Kamynin.
Botsan-Kharchenko: Russia has Kosovo plan
Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko, the Russian representative for the Balkans, was quoted by Beta news agency Monday as saying that a unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence and its recognition could "de facto" lead to the province's partition.
At an expanded meeting of the International Relations Committee of the Russian Duma, Botsan-Kharchenko said that the West will thus reach a variant that it has previously considered the worst and against which it has fought.
Botsan-Kharchenko said that President Boris Tadić and Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, during their recent visit to Moscow, made it known that they are ready for further negotiations, but that they would not agree to independence and the separation of a part of Serbia's territory.
"Belgrade is prepared to take measures as a response to [the proclamation of Kosovo's] independence, not of a military character, but as we understood, of an economic character, with the cooperation of the Serbs in Kosovo," he said.
"Russia has prepared an entire series of measures in the event Kosovo unilaterally proclaims independence and if Western countries recognize that independence," the Russian diplomat said.
Botsan-Kharchenko stated that there is close coordination with Belgrade in the steps and actions that will be taken, adding that it is not possible to reveal these measures "for understandable reasons."
He said that they will be announced by the Russian leadership.
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