EU Russian ambassador warns against recognition

Vladimir Chizhov warns that Moscow will react negatively to countries that recognize Kosovo independence. “This, above all, refers to the EU which does not have a consensus on this issue,” the Russian ambassador to the EU said in an interview for Vienna daily Die Presse, when asked how recognition of Kosovo independence on the part of most EU member states would affect Russian-EU relations, EU Russian ambassador warns against recognition “Of course, these negative consequences would only apply to those countries that recognize Kosovo, but I do not want to say what countries these will be,” he added. Commenting on possible developments following the declaration of independence, Chizhov underlined that if it happened, it would cause widespread instability throughout the region. “The reaction of the Serbian side can be predicted and it is probable that the remaining 100,000 Serbs in Kosovo will not recognize it (independence),” he said, adding that violence could not be ruled out. The ambassador pointed out that Pristina’s actions might have repercussions in other regions as well, such as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia, for example. “This does not have to be the last chapter of the Balkan drama,” Chizhov stressed. Asked whether he expected other provinces in the world to secede, including those in the region of the former Soviet Union, following the independence declaration, he replied that that would definitely be the case. “Too many of them will see Kosovo as a precedent, as will certain parts of the former Soviet Union, such as Georgia,” Chizhov warned, reiterating that experts had established over 200 cases that would view Kosovo as a precedent. “Need I mention Belgium, Scotland, West Sahara. Abkhazia is not the reason for our strong stand on the Kosovo issue,” the ambassador emphasized. Meanwhile, the Russian Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee will draft a resolution on the dangerous situation regarding Kosovo and possible recognition of the province’s unilaterally declared independence, Speaker of the Russian State Duma Boris Gryzlov said today. Duma Vice-Chairman of the State Duma, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party and Russian presidential candidate Vladimir Zhirinovsky tabled the initiative for the document at a Duma plenary session. "Kosovo is subversion in international law. It will be a precedent that will be used throughout the 21st century for all big and small states to break up. We must have a prompt response to that," he said.

EU Russian ambassador warns against recognition

“Of course, these negative consequences would only apply to those countries that recognize Kosovo, but I do not want to say what countries these will be,” he added.

Commenting on possible developments following the declaration of independence, Chizhov underlined that if it happened, it would cause widespread instability throughout the region.

“The reaction of the Serbian side can be predicted and it is probable that the remaining 100,000 Serbs in Kosovo will not recognize it (independence),” he said, adding that violence could not be ruled out.

The ambassador pointed out that Priština’s actions might have repercussions in other regions as well, such as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia, for example.

“This does not have to be the last chapter of the Balkan drama,” Chizhov stressed.

Asked whether he expected other provinces in the world to secede, including those in the region of the former Soviet Union, following the independence declaration, he replied that that would definitely be the case.

“Too many of them will see Kosovo as a precedent, as will certain parts of the former Soviet Union, such as Georgia,” Chizhov warned, reiterating that experts had established over 200 cases that would view Kosovo as a precedent.

“Need I mention Belgium, Scotland, West Sahara. Abkhazia is not the reason for our strong stand on the Kosovo issue,” the ambassador emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Russian Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee will draft a resolution on the dangerous situation regarding Kosovo and possible recognition of the province’s unilaterally declared independence, Speaker of the Russian State Duma Boris Gryzlov said today.

Duma Vice-Chairman of the State Duma, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party and Russian presidential candidate Vladimir Zhirinovsky tabled the initiative for the document at a Duma plenary session.

"Kosovo is subversion in international law. It will be a precedent that will be used throughout the 21st century for all big and small states to break up. We must have a prompt response to that," he said.