“Huge level of mistrust in Kosovo”

The EU and U.S. are moving too fast, risking "serious destabilization" of the region, Russia's ambassador to the EU says.

Izvor: EUOBSERVER

Sunday, 01.04.2007.

11:38

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BRUSSELS The EU and U.S. are moving too fast, risking "serious destabilization" of the region, Russia's ambassador to the EU says. "I have been to certain parts of Kosovo," Russia's ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov told EUobserver Friday. “Huge level of mistrust in Kosovo” "There are about 60 people living [in Gracanica] and Swedish [NATO] soldiers are taking them to the local market, every day, with armored personnel carriers. The level of mutual mistrust is huge," Chizov argued. "What is particularly dangerous is to have a superficial solution, that could see the real conflict boiling underneath and that could explode again at some point," he added, saying that Moscow sees the Ahtisaari’s plan as a "basis for further negotiations" but not as the basis of a new UN resolution. The Russian diplomat suggested the EU and U.S. are moving too fast in a strategy that risks "serious destabilization" of the Western Balkans. "Everybody agrees the status quo cannot last forever. But look at Northern Ireland, how long it took Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams to sit at the same table - 30 years, and they speak the same language," he remarked. Chizhov also said that Serbia might accept limited autonomy for Kosovo that would give it the right to join some international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, but not to have a seat at the UN or its own army. "I would prefer Kosovo to serve as a positive precedent, should a solution short of independence be found. A confederation might be an option," he said. "[The EU] should be careful not to rock the boat so much that it turns upside down," the Russia's ambassador to the EU concluded.

“Huge level of mistrust in Kosovo”

"There are about 60 people living [in Gračanica] and Swedish [NATO] soldiers are taking them to the local market, every day, with armored personnel carriers. The level of mutual mistrust is huge," Chizov argued.

"What is particularly dangerous is to have a superficial solution, that could see the real conflict boiling underneath and that could explode again at some point," he added, saying that Moscow sees the Ahtisaari’s plan as a "basis for further negotiations" but not as the basis of a new UN resolution.

The Russian diplomat suggested the EU and U.S. are moving too fast in a strategy that risks "serious destabilization" of the Western Balkans.

"Everybody agrees the status quo cannot last forever. But look at Northern Ireland, how long it took Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams to sit at the same table - 30 years, and they speak the same language," he remarked.

Chizhov also said that Serbia might accept limited autonomy for Kosovo that would give it the right to join some international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, but not to have a seat at the UN or its own army.

"I would prefer Kosovo to serve as a positive precedent, should a solution short of independence be found. A confederation might be an option," he said.

"[The EU] should be careful not to rock the boat so much that it turns upside down," the Russia's ambassador to the EU concluded.

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