Moscow slams Burns statement

A war of words over Kosovo is raging between Russia and the United States. After yesterday's statement from U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, who said Moscow's opposition to Kosovo's unilateral secession was "cynical" and "irresponsible", Russia's Foreign Ministry Sunday "slammed as cynical the U.S. position on Kosovo", RIA Novosti says. Moscow slams Burns statement "The support of one Kosovo Albanian side, negligence of law in favor of the so-called political expediency, indifference to the fates of one hundred thousand Serbs who are actually being driven into the ghetto in the 21st century are nothing else but open cynicism," the ministry said in a statement. "Is it not cynical to openly humiliate the Serbian nation, by promising Euro-Atlantic perspectives in case Belgrade agrees to the ripping apart of Serbia. Does the American thesis about the uniqueness of the Kosovo case mean that some have the right to their statehood, while others ought to be denied," the strongly-worded response reads. "No reasonable person has any doubts that Russia is contributing to the solution of the Kosovo problem," the statement added, and reminded that Russia had its peacekeepers in the province from 1999 until 2004, in the period that was "hardest and with most risks". The contingent was withdrawn, the Russian MFA says, due to Moscow's objection to irregularities in Kosovo, violation of the international mission's mandate, outlined with UN Resolution 1244, and first and foremost, when human rights of the non-Albanian population were breached. Recent UN Security Council deliberations show that most countries would like to see a legal solution to the crisis, Russia responded to Burns' claims that it was finding itself "increasingly isolated". A declaration from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe also demonstrated this, Moscow says. "We do not need to be spurred to make responsible statements on Kosovo, as Burns is trying to say. We are making precisely such statements when we tell the truth, when we call things by their real name, honestly warning of the destructive consequences of stimulating separatism, and directly pointing to those who are acting to bring down the world order," the statement concluded. The Kosovo parliament unilaterally adopted on February 17 a declaration on the province's independence from Serbia. Belgrade has called the decision illegal and is demanding its annulment. The United States and some other Western countries have recognized Kosovo Albanias' declaration.

Moscow slams Burns statement

"The support of one Kosovo Albanian side, negligence of law in favor of the so-called political expediency, indifference to the fates of one hundred thousand Serbs who are actually being driven into the ghetto in the 21st century are nothing else but open cynicism," the ministry said in a statement.

"Is it not cynical to openly humiliate the Serbian nation, by promising Euro-Atlantic perspectives in case Belgrade agrees to the ripping apart of Serbia. Does the American thesis about the uniqueness of the Kosovo case mean that some have the right to their statehood, while others ought to be denied," the strongly-worded response reads.

"No reasonable person has any doubts that Russia is contributing to the solution of the Kosovo problem," the statement added, and reminded that Russia had its peacekeepers in the province from 1999 until 2004, in the period that was "hardest and with most risks".

The contingent was withdrawn, the Russian MFA says, due to Moscow's objection to irregularities in Kosovo, violation of the international mission's mandate, outlined with UN Resolution 1244, and first and foremost, when human rights of the non-Albanian population were breached.

Recent UN Security Council deliberations show that most countries would like to see a legal solution to the crisis, Russia responded to Burns' claims that it was finding itself "increasingly isolated". A declaration from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe also demonstrated this, Moscow says.

"We do not need to be spurred to make responsible statements on Kosovo, as Burns is trying to say. We are making precisely such statements when we tell the truth, when we call things by their real name, honestly warning of the destructive consequences of stimulating separatism, and directly pointing to those who are acting to bring down the world order," the statement concluded.

The Kosovo parliament unilaterally adopted on February 17 a declaration on the province's independence from Serbia. Belgrade has called the decision illegal and is demanding its annulment. The United States and some other Western countries have recognized Kosovo Albanias' declaration.