Putin calls on NATO to respect international law

Vladimir Putin told the Russia-NATO Council that the case of Kosovo had dealt international law a serious blow. A member of Moscow's delegation in Bucharest told the media that the Russian president had said that his country “would continue to protect the foundations of international law,“ Itar-Tass reported. Putin calls on NATO to respect international law “Lately, we have encountered situations where international law has suffered serious setbacks—they bombed Yugoslavia, Kosovo was recognized unilaterally," the Russian official quoted him as saying, RIA Novosti reports. "We believe that it is necessary to continue to preserve the system of international law,“ said the delegation member, adding that Putin had stressed the importance of having a multi-polar world. Russian media also reported a statement from NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer that the debate at the meeting had been open, and that some progress had been made on the issue of Kosovo. After the meeting, Scheffer said that talks should continue, because contrasting views on the matter existed between NATO and Russia. “NATO’s role, KFOR’s role in Kosovo have been and will be based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244, unless, of course, the Security Council decides otherwise, and over that, there is no disagreement,“ he stressed. The NATO secretary-general said that KFOR’s presence in Kosovo, and its role in protecting minorities were not in any question. “Our disagreements are more fundamental, but NATO has nothing to do with recognizing Kosovo, that is up to individual states. NATO’s presence in Kosovo is not at issue,“ he concluded. Vladimir Putin, George Bush (Beta)

Putin calls on NATO to respect international law

“Lately, we have encountered situations where international law has suffered serious setbacks—they bombed Yugoslavia, Kosovo was recognized unilaterally," the Russian official quoted him as saying, RIA Novosti reports.

"We believe that it is necessary to continue to preserve the system of international law,“ said the delegation member, adding that Putin had stressed the importance of having a multi-polar world.

Russian media also reported a statement from NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer that the debate at the meeting had been open, and that some progress had been made on the issue of Kosovo.

After the meeting, Scheffer said that talks should continue, because contrasting views on the matter existed between NATO and Russia. “NATO’s role, KFOR’s role in Kosovo have been and will be based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244, unless, of course, the Security Council decides otherwise, and over that, there is no disagreement,“ he stressed.

The NATO secretary-general said that KFOR’s presence in Kosovo, and its role in protecting minorities were not in any question.

“Our disagreements are more fundamental, but NATO has nothing to do with recognizing Kosovo, that is up to individual states. NATO’s presence in Kosovo is not at issue,“ he concluded.