Lavrov: No hurry in Kosovo case 20 May 2007 | 09:34 | Source: B92, ITAR-TASS MOSCOW -- Russia has urged the international community not to hurry with the definition of Kosovo status, the Russian FM said Friday.
Following the EU-Russia summit held Friday in Samara, the EU and Russian leaders held a joint press conference <http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=05&dd=18&nav_category=92&nav_id=41267> in Samara where they did not make any references to Kosovo whatsoever. In an interview with Vesti news channel late Friday, Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on the summit and issues discussed among EU and Russia’s officials saying that Russia suggested “additional negotiations on Kosovo in order to find a solution acceptable for both Serbia and Kosovo Albanians.” “It is necessary to abide by all international laws, including the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the principle of inviolability of borders that cannot be breached other than by mutual consent,” Lavrov said adding that only this principle could apply to Kosovo or any other case in the world. “Any decisions on Kosovo violating international legal norms will inevitably become a precedent, no matter we want that or not. Other small nations, who are also seeking independence, will inevitably ask why international laws may be breached in one case and cannot be breached in another, why the self-determination principle prevails in one case and does not in another,” he said. “This is a very dangerous Pandora’s Box, and President Putin frankly told that to his EU colleagues, the same as he did at the Moscow meeting with [U.S. Secretary of State] Condoleezza Rice,” Lavrov said. Lavrov continued to explain that Russia therefore suggested “taking time in the definition of the Kosovo status, especially as Belgrade is not de facto interfering in the life of Kosovo Albanians.” “We suggest further negotiations and additional steps in the protection of rights of national minorities in Kosovo, since the provisions of UN 1244 resolution pertaining to this particular issue have not yet been implemented in Kosovo,” he said. Lavrov also said that Russia would not object to a larger EU role in Kosovo. “Bearing in mind the EU’s wish to make a greater contribution to the international settlement efforts, we may specify parameters of the international presence in Kosovo at the UN Security Council and attribute the key role to the EU, at least in the respect of the civilian mission,” Lavrov concluded in the interview with Vesti news channel, ITAR-Tass reported. View article... <http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r942149630>
