RF MFA: KOSOVO UNILATERAL INDEPENDENCE IRRESPONSIBLE STEP

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.02.2008 17:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on
Tuesday a move towards the declaration of unilateral independence
by Kosovo an irresponsible step that undermines the principles of
international law.

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said last Friday that the
Albanian-dominated province was close to declaring independence from
Serbia, and its government was closely cooperating with international
organizations to alleviate any problems that may arise.

Top European Union diplomats have said they expect Kosovo’s
independence to be declared on February 17.

"We are speaking here about the subversion of all the foundations
of international law, about the subversion of those principles
which, at huge effort, and at the cost of Europe’s pain, sacrifice
and bloodletting have been earned and laid down as a basis of its
existence, we are speaking about a subversion of those principles
on which the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
rests on, those [principles] laid down in the fundamental documents
of the UN."

"Nobody can offer a clear plan of action in the case of a chain
reaction [of further declarations of unilateral independence]. It
turns out that they are planning to act in a hit or miss fashion in
an issue of paramount importance. This is simply inadmissible and
irresponsible," the Russian diplomat said.

"I sincerely fail to comprehend the principles guiding our American
colleagues, and those European [countries] who have taken up this
position," he added.

Of the 27 EU states, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia, Bulgaria and
Romania have joined Serbia and Russia in opposing independence for
Kosovo, saying the move could set a dangerous precedent for other
breakaway territories.

Lavrov also accused those insisting on the uniqueness of the Kosovo
problem of applying double standards.

"They are saying that Kosovo is unique, and it turns out that
international law can be defied there with the approval of others. This
will not happen," he said, RIA Novosti reports.

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov announced on
Sunday that his country had no plans to recognize the sovereignty
of separatist South Ossetia and Abkhazia if Kosovo is declared
independent. South Ossetia and Abkhazia declared independence from
Georgia following bloody conflicts in the wake of the Soviet Union’s
1991 collapse.

According to Serbian media, among UN Security Council members, Russia,
China, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Africa oppose independence for
Kosovo. The U.S., Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and Panama have been
calling for the province’s independence. Of the remaining Security
Council members, Libya, Croatia, Costa Rica and Burkina Faso have
not yet formulated their respective positions.

Kosovo has been a UN protectorate since the NATO bombing of the former
Yugoslavia ended a conflict between Albanian and Serb forces in 1999.