| Moscow sends warning to intl. forces |
| 11 April 2008 | 09:09
| Source:
Beta, Tanjug |
MOSCOW --
Russia has called on the international forces in Kosovo, EU and NATO to act sensibly, fairly, and strictly within the mandate entrusted to them by the UN.
 | Sergei Lavrov (FoNet, archive)
|
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry says that “according to information coming from certain Western media, the international forces in Kosovo are preparing operations against the Kosovo Serbs with the aim of provoking them.“
The groundwork is being put in place for a big application of force against the Serb population in Kosovo, with the aim of pacifying them following the declaration of independence, reads the statement.
If this information is true, the statement adds, "it becomes clear that the international forces in Kosovo have not learned their lesson from the tragic events in Kosovska Mitrovica in March this year.“
“Such measures threaten to accelerate a partition of the province, and a large conflict in the region,“ warns the Russian Ministry.
“We call on the international forces, EU and NATO to responsibly consider the implications of such application of force, to act sensibly and fairly, strictly within the mandate that they received from the UN on the basis of Security Council Resolution 1244,“ concludes the statement.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow that during his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, it had been reiterated that it was necessary to rely on Resolution 1244, and strictly carry out the mandate entrusted therein.
“We’ve reviewed the situation in Kosovo. We’ve confirmed our position as far as the necessity to rely on Resolution 1244 is concerned, and strictly carry out the mandate of the UN mission to Kosovo,“ Lavrov said after the meeting.
“I think there is a common understanding between us that there is potential for further efforts to defend this approach,“ added the foreign minister.
He stressed that all unilateral actions outwith the UN and in contravention of the UN Charter would create serious new problems.
Lavrov said that he hoped that “everyone would learn a lesson from that experience, and focus on the UN’s central role in conflict and crisis resolution.“
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