http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=13402&cid=56&p=06.07.2007
Voice of Russia
July 6, 2007
UNILATERAL DECISION ON KOSOVO A SERIOUS BLOW TO
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Vyacheslav Solovyov
-"[A] unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo
is fraught with serious consequences. First, it will
undermine trust in the UN and disrupt an international
order that has barely recovered itself after the
events in Yugoslavia and Iraq. Not only relations
between Russia and the West, but the entire system of
international relations will be at risk."
On Monday, the UN Security Council is scheduled to
resume consultations on the future status of Kosovo.
The Security Council has two draft resolutions on its
table.
One, submitted by the United States, France and
Britain, proposes that Kosovo should automatically
receive independence after 120 days — a deadline set
for talks between Belgrade and Pristina.
Russia insists that no temporal restrictions be
imposed and that all security demands laid down in the
previous resolution on Kosovo be fulfilled.
Meanwhile, one can hear statements in the West that if
the proposed new resolution fails to win the Council’s
approval, Kosovo may proclaim independence
unilaterally and every country will then decide for
itself whether to recognize it.
Analyst Dmitry Danilov from the Moscow-based Institute
of Europe believes this will be a serious blow to the
entire system of international relations:
"Although not unlikely, a unilateral declaration of
independence by Kosovo is fraught with serious
consequences. First, it will undermine trust in the UN
and disrupt an international order that has barely
recovered itself after the events in Yugoslavia and
Iraq. Not only relations between Russia and the West,
but the entire system of international relations will
be at risk."
Russia’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov
has said that any solution on Kosovo will create a
precedent that will influence other “frozen”
conflicts.
He urged the international community to decide which
of the two key principles of international law should
be used in handling such conflicts – respect for
territorial integrity or the right of nations to
self-determination.
Regrettably, some countries practice double standards
– they call for self-determination for Kosovo but
insist on territorial integrity when it comes to
post-Soviet republics.
This double-standard approach is unacceptable to
Russia.
Moscow sticks to its former position, namely that a
just and mutually suitable solution can only be found
through dialogue engaging all parties involved.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
