Russian FM on NATO, Kosovo, Mesić

Attempts at a mechanical NATO expansion do not offer security to anyone, even its members, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday. Such attempts are not adequate for the contemporary world but only cause mistrust, Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow. Russian FM on NATO, Kosovo, Mesic Asked about the “increasingly frequent invitations to Serbia to join NATO”, Lavrov said the situation is not simple, given Serbia's “experience with NATO in 1999”. Serbia will have to make its own decision, he said. But he also noted that the Serbian parliament adopted a resolution on the country’s military neutrality, and added that he deduced from his discussion with Serb friends that most of Serbia’s citizens share the same attitude. “Russia has proposed a new security system for all world countries, in which they would not have to choose between the East and the West,” Lavrov added. Asked to comment on Montenegro's decision to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo without waiting for the opinion of International Court of Justice opinion, Lavrov Said that the decision was contrary to the UNSCR 1244. “All countries rushing to recognize a self-proclaimed state are doing so in order to gain some political benefit,” Lavrov noted. He also expressed concern over the current situation in Kosovo and that Pristina, i.e. Kosovo’s Albanians, is trying to obstruct the work of the UN. “We call upon those who have influence on Pristina not to allow for such attempts to take place,” said he, and added that many problems found in Kosovo will be “considered in detail” at the Security Council session. “Serb rights are neglected in Kosovo and the EU mission, which is in Kosovo with Serbia's approval, is trying to ignore the UN mission which is the only one with UN Security Council mandate. This is a contradiction,” Lavrov said. He added that “when there’s good will, negotiations can be renewed”. “The UN secretary-general must be guided by the Security Council decisions, and the basic solution for Kosovo is Resolution 1244. It’s important that Pristina’s sponsors do not forbid, but entice it to normal negotiations,” Russia’s foreign minister stated. Lavrov also criticized the statement of outgoing Croatian President Stjepan Mesic that if the Republic of Srpska were to hold a referendum on “secession”, Croatia would resort to military intervention. Russia supports the Dayton Accord which put an end to war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lavrov said. All parties should consistently and firmly adhere to the provisions of the Dayton Accord, which rules out the use of force, he said. Sergei Lavrov (FoNet, file)

Russian FM on NATO, Kosovo, Mesić

Asked about the “increasingly frequent invitations to Serbia to join NATO”, Lavrov said the situation is not simple, given Serbia's “experience with NATO in 1999”.

Serbia will have to make its own decision, he said.

But he also noted that the Serbian parliament adopted a resolution on the country’s military neutrality, and added that he deduced from his discussion with Serb friends that most of Serbia’s citizens share the same attitude.

“Russia has proposed a new security system for all world countries, in which they would not have to choose between the East and the West,” Lavrov added.

Asked to comment on Montenegro's decision to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo without waiting for the opinion of International Court of Justice opinion, Lavrov

Said that the decision was contrary to the UNSCR 1244.

“All countries rushing to recognize a self-proclaimed state are doing so in order to gain some political benefit,” Lavrov noted.

He also expressed concern over the current situation in Kosovo and that Priština, i.e. Kosovo’s Albanians, is trying to obstruct the work of the UN.

“We call upon those who have influence on Priština not to allow for such attempts to take place,” said he, and added that many problems found in Kosovo will be “considered in detail” at the Security Council session.

“Serb rights are neglected in Kosovo and the EU mission, which is in Kosovo with Serbia's approval, is trying to ignore the UN mission which is the only one with UN Security Council mandate. This is a contradiction,” Lavrov said.

He added that “when there’s good will, negotiations can be renewed”.

“The UN secretary-general must be guided by the Security Council decisions, and the basic solution for Kosovo is Resolution 1244. It’s important that Priština’s sponsors do not forbid, but entice it to normal negotiations,” Russia’s foreign minister stated.

Lavrov also criticized the statement of outgoing Croatian President Stjepan Mesić that if the Republic of Srpska were to hold a referendum on “secession”, Croatia would resort to military intervention.

Russia supports the Dayton Accord which put an end to war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lavrov said.

All parties should consistently and firmly adhere to the provisions of the Dayton Accord, which rules out the use of force, he said.