Russia rejects U.N. resolution on Kosovo
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press WriterThu May 31, The United States and European nations introduced a revised U.N. resolution Thursday supporting independence for Kosovo under international supervision, but it was immediately rejected by Russia — who hinted it would veto the measure. The new draft included several minor changes that sought to address Russia's concerns about ensuring that Kosovo's multiethnic character is preserved. But it did not include Russia's main proposal for new negotiations between the province's majority ethnic Albanians, who are demanding independence, and its minority Serbs, who want to remain part of Serbia. "The introduction of this updated version of the draft has not changed anything as far as we are concerned," Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said. "We should think in terms of continued effort to find a mutually acceptable solution to the future of Kosovo." He cited an "important letter" from Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asking the U.N. chief to set up new negotiations on Kosovo's status. Jeremic said the main objective is "to reach a compromise solution" to guarantee Kosovo's long-term stability — but he also reiterated Serbia's opposition to Kosovo's independence. The resolution's supporters said they want swift action on the resolution, which would end U.N. administration of Kosovo in 120 days and have the European Union take over the province's supervised transition to independence. NATO-led troops would remain to help ensure security and an international civilian representative would oversee the transition. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, the current Security Council president, said council experts would meet Friday to discuss the new draft. Churkin said he might send a representative to listen, but said Russia would not discuss a draft that did not address its concerns. Khalilzad said the U.S. would like a Security Council vote on the resolution by next week. Asked what Russia will do if the new draft resolution is pushed to a vote, Churkin said, "Under those circumstances, unfortunately, the outcome would be obvious." When asked if that meant he would veto the resolution, he replied: "I don't like this word until I receive final instructions, but you're guessing well what is in my mind." While Kosovo remains a province of Serbia, it has been under U.N. and NATO administration since a 78-day NATO-led air war that halted a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in 1999. Last month, U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari recommended that Kosovo be granted internationally supervised independence — a proposal welcomed by its ethnic Albanian majority, who comprise 90 percent of the province's 2 million people, but vehemently rejected by its Serb minority. Russia's opposition to the proposal is linked to its strong cultural and religious ties to the Serbs. The new draft resolution, which is backed by the U.S. and the European Union's Security Council members — France, Britain, Slovakia, Belgium and Italy — would be under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter which deals with threats to peace and security and can be militarily enforced. Russia spurns West's concessions on Kosovo future By Patrick WorsnipThu May 31, Reuters Western nations softened a draft resolution to back U.N. plans for a future Kosovo state, but Russia dismissed the move on Thursday and renewed its threat of a veto unless there were radical changes. Western diplomats, speaking after Britain formally introduced the text in the Security Council, suggested the Russians were posturing and said they would like to schedule a vote next week, but did not rule out it could take longer. The draft is a revised version of one circulated earlier this month that would allow Kosovo's 2 million ethnic Albanians to declare independence eight years after NATO wrested control of the territory from Serbia. In one change, the Security Council would not "endorse" U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari's blueprint for qualified independence for Kosovo, but only "support" it. The latest draft also proposes a special U.N. envoy to deal with the return of thousands of Serb refugees, another concern of Russia. Moscow is a long-standing ally of Serbia, which fiercely opposes Kosovan independence. Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, scoffed at the amendments as far short of what Moscow was seeking, saying they had "not changed anything as far as we are concerned." Churkin restated Moscow's call for more talks between Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanians, something also proposed in a letter from Serbia to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, made public by U.N. officials on Thursday. In the letter, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said the talks should have no time limit and aim at a "compromise solution" guaranteeing the region's long-term stability. The West says further talks would achieve no more than previous ones. Churkin again hinted at a veto of the resolution in its current form. "I don't like this word (veto) till I receive final instructions, but you are guessing well what is in my mind," he said in answer to a reporter's question. STICKING POINT Ahtisaari's plan does not explicitly recommend independence, but sets out the framework of a Kosovo state, including provisions for an international overseer and autonomy for the 100,000 Serbs. Clause 6 of the draft U.N. text, which calls for replacing a resolution adopted in June 1999 after 78 days of NATO bombing forced the pullout of Serb forces, remains the key sticking point. That resolution affirms the sovereignty of Yugoslavia, a defunct state whose legal successor is Serbia. Kosovo Albanians demand full independence, eight years after 10,000 died and almost 1 million were expelled in a two-year Serbian counterinsurgency war. Serbia says broad autonomy is the most it can offer. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said it was up to Russia to present "constructive ideas and suggestions" to amend the resolution, but that Kosovo's independence was inevitable. Asked when a vote might be called, Khalilzad said, "Our preference would be for this to take place next week." British envoy Emyr Jones Parry told journalists: "The Russians don't necessarily have any intention to veto. ... There's no point in having a veto unless now and again you flash it around to threaten people with." The Security Council's permanent members -- Russia, China, the United States, Britain and France -- hold vetoes. In the Kosovo capital, Pristina, diplomats said a resolution even by the end of June looked improbable and, with host Germany unlikely to push the issue at next week's Group of Eight summit, September could be more realistic.
