Russia: U.S. greatest obstacle for Kosovo
Posted : Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:54:53 GMT Author : World News Editor Category : World <http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/cat/World.html> News Alerts by Email click here <http://www.earthtimes.org/member/> ) <http://feeds.earthtimes.org/earthtimes/world> http://www.earthtimes.org/images/small_rss.gif Create your own RSS <http://www.earthtimes.org/myrssfeeds.php> World News | Home <http://www.earthtimes.org/> MOSCOW, Dec. 8 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday the United States poses the greatest obstacle to a negotiated settlement regarding Kosovo. "Unfortunately, the fixed position of certain Western capitals, above all Washington ... on independence for Kosovo and the lack of an alternative to independence, is the main obstacle on the path to a continuation of a negotiated settlement (on Kosovo's status)," Lavrov said following a Russia-NATO council meeting. The Contact Group of the European Union, Russia and the United States concluded talks regarding Kosovo's independence as NATO members voiced their intent to continue operations in Kosovo. NATO said in a statement that its international peacekeeping force will stay in Kosovo under the authorization of U.N. Security Council resolution 1244, "unless the Security Council decides otherwise." The United Nations imposed a Dec. 10 deadline to reach an agreement on the status of Kosovo, which has said it will unilaterally declare independence if the United Nations fails to approve such a measure. Russia, an ally of Kosovo's long-time foe Serbia, said an independent Kosovo would have a destabilizing effect on the region http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/155460.html
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