Russian envoy on plan for northern Kosovo

Russian ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin said that he is against the plan for the integration of northern Kosovo, which he said had no legal basis. He reminded that the topic was recently discussed by the UN Security Council, and reiterated the Russian stance that Resolution 1244 should be the basis for the negotiation process for the future status of Kosovo. Russian envoy on plan for northern Kosovo He said that the plan for the “integration of northern Kosovo,” is being prepared outside of the international community and without agreements with anyone, which is why Russia finds it unacceptable and will “completely ignore the plan.” Konuzin said that the there should be no differences made between the Serbs that live in the north and in other enclaves south of the Ibar River. “To me they are all equal, and all their problems must be solved in accordance with Resolution 1244,” Konuzin said. He said that statements saying that parallel institutions are causing problems in northern Kosovo “do not contribute to solving the problems, but only make them deeper.” Asked whether the integration plans and Belgrade’s fight against them represent an introduction into a process of dividing the province, Konuzin said that there is no talk of this solution currently, but that it has been discussed by scholars and experts. He said that efforts must be made to find a solution for the status of the territory that will be acceptable for both the Serb and non-Serb population. Konuzin said that the negotiation potential for a political solution has not been used to its fullest extent and that there is still a possiblity for negotiations between all the sides that are involved. He said that negotiations for Kosovo’s status should continue once the International Court of Justice gives its opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilaterally proclaimed independence. Aleksandr Konuzin (FoNet archive)

Russian envoy on plan for northern Kosovo

He said that the plan for the “integration of northern Kosovo,” is being prepared outside of the international community and without agreements with anyone, which is why Russia finds it unacceptable and will “completely ignore the plan.”

Konuzin said that the there should be no differences made between the Serbs that live in the north and in other enclaves south of the Ibar River.

“To me they are all equal, and all their problems must be solved in accordance with Resolution 1244,” Konuzin said.

He said that statements saying that parallel institutions are causing problems in northern Kosovo “do not contribute to solving the problems, but only make them deeper.”

Asked whether the integration plans and Belgrade’s fight against them represent an introduction into a process of dividing the province, Konuzin said that there is no talk of this solution currently, but that it has been discussed by scholars and experts.

He said that efforts must be made to find a solution for the status of the territory that will be acceptable for both the Serb and non-Serb population.

Konuzin said that the negotiation potential for a political solution has not been used to its fullest extent and that there is still a possiblity for negotiations between all the sides that are involved.

He said that negotiations for Kosovo’s status should continue once the International Court of Justice gives its opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilaterally proclaimed independence.