Russia is not in conflict with the West over Kosovo

Russia is not in conflict with the West over Kosovo

He added that Moscow believes that the Kosovo problem cannot be looked at as an isolated incident and that a solution for the crisis in the region will set a precedent for similar situations in other parts of the world. Despite the differences in agreement which exist within the Contact Group and the Security Council, there are not any great conflicts between Russia and the US, as the media has been suggesting.

B92: How much of a conflict actually exists with the West?

Aleksiev: I would like to make the situation less dramatic right from the beginning. There are no serious conflicts or difficulties in the work of the Contact Group. There are differences in the individual stances of its members and members of the Security Council, and that is absolutely normal. But we will continue to work in order to gain results. This job must be handled professionally and it calls for the work of people who know the situation and have experience in finding solutions for serious international problems. It seems to me that there will be a united task for finding a solution for Kosovo that will help stability in Southeast Europe and the entire continent.

B92: Did the Russian representatives, on June 30 in Brussels, give the Contact Group a list of demands and objections like the media reported that they did?

Aleksiev: I was in Moscow at that time and I talked to people who participate in the work of the Contact Group. I can openly claim that no documents were submitted. Within the Contact Group we talk about concrete questions, not personal ones. 

B92: However, Russia does have objections to the Kosovo status discussions thus far?

Aleksiev: I can confirm that our stance is that independence cannot be considered the only possible solution. We think that there should be various solutions on the discussion table and that trying to talk about a solution ahead of time is counterproductive. We also believe that it is not useful to give strict deadlines for the end of the talks. The discussions must last up until the moment that a compromise has been found and a solution is found that will satisfy both sides.

B92: Is the Belgrade Government mistaking Russia’s support of respecting international laws for the support of Serbia’s stances in the Kosovo discussions?

Aleksiev: The task of Russian diplomacy is not to support one side or the other. Russia supports the respecting of international laws and Resolution 1244. Our stance is that the case of Kosovo needs to be looked at as a precedent for other centres of crisis. And this is where our stances strike a chord with our partners in Belgrade. Therefore, in Russia there are also officials who are fighting for the recognition of international rights, the principles of crisis solving and securing stability and the development of Southeast Europe.

B92: But limits in this support do exist?

Aleksiev: It is hard to say where the limits are. We do not want to be in a situation to go to the limits and we therefore believe that the solution needs to be found through talks and should be handled by Belgrade and Priština. I believe that no one wants this to reach a level of tensions that would require extraordinary measures.

B92: Do you support direct discussions between Belgrade and Priština?

Aleksiev: We insist on it. In order to find a solution we must consider that the talks are not only desired, but necessary (…) The idea of direct talks between Belgrade and Priština has our full support. And more than that: we believe that the solution can only be found through direct discussions; a solution that will be of a long-term character and will be able to add to the stability and development of the region. Of course, these meetings on the highest level must be supported by meetings between experts who will discuss concrete topics which are not tied directly to status.

B92: Thank you for talking with us.

Aleksiev: Thank you.