http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.259586226&par=0
ADN Kronos International (Italy)
February 1, 2006
SERBIA: BELGRADE CHEERED BY PUTINS KOSOVO REMARKS
-Such a quasi-solution would destroy international law and cause a chain
reaction in many European and non-European countries, including the post-Soviet
states.
Belgrade - Serbian press gave big play on Wednesday to Russian president
Vladimir Putins statement that the international community should apply the
same criteria to all inter-ethnic disputes in the world. Putin said that
allowing independence for Kosovo, a predominantly ethnic Albanian province of
Serbia under United Nations control since 1999, could set a dangerous precedent
for other countries.
In a front page article, influential daily Politika carried his statements in
Moscow Tuesday, under the headline When I say Kosovo, I mean Caucasus. Other
papers also carried Putins statement in front pages.
The international community should apply unique, universal principles in
solving multi-ethnic problems, said Putin, referring to Kosovo province, where
majority ethnic Albanians demand independence.
If, for example, Kosovo can become independent, why couldnt Abkhazia or South
Ossetia, said Putin, referring to the turbulent Caucus region.
Serbian officials, who oppose Kosovo independence, interpreted Putins
pronouncement as a sign that he would oppose the partitioning of Serbia and
stand for the preservation of its sovereignty over Kosovo.
Russia is, with the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, a
member of a powerful Contact Group for Kosovo, which is expected to influence
Kosovos final status.
The talks on the future of Kosovo were set to begin in January, but have been
postponed for the end of February because of the death of Kosovo president
Ibrahim Rugova. It is a good message for Serbs, and I hope that Putins views
will be respected by the entire international community, said a Kosovo Serb
leader Dragisa Krstovic.
Sanda Raskovic Ivic, Serbian government coordinator for Kosovo, said that Putin
has given a signal and warning to those in the international community who
would like to treat Kosovo as an exception and grant it independence. Such a
quasi-solution would destroy international law and cause a chain reaction in
many European and non-European countries, including the post-Soviet states.
But James Lyon, controversial director of Belgrade office of the [infamous]
International Crisis Group, a non-governmental [sic] organization that deals
with prevention of conflicts, said that Serbian interpretations of Putins
statement were wrong.
Russia has more or less given up on Kosovo, Lyon told Belgrade radio B92.
He said it would be in Serbias interest to give up Kosovo, just as it was in
Russias interest to give up some Caucasus republics, like Chechnya.
Russia sees in Kosovo a sort of a precedent which it might use in the Caucases
and which would be in its interest, said Lyon.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
