http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080117/97214032.html
Russian Information Agency Novosti
January 17, 2008
Belgrade's approval needed for EU to replace UN in
Kosovo - Russia
MOSCOW - The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday
that the EU can only replace the UN in Kosovo with the
approval of both Pristina and Belgrade.
Most Western states back the volatile area's drive for
independence, and recently agreed that Kosovo's status
would be determined by the European Union and NATO.
Russia insists that Belgrade and Pristina continue to
seek a compromise.
Mikhail Kamynin, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman,
said that any replacement of the UN mission in Kosovo
by the European Union could be discussed "provided an
according agreement is reached between the sides."
The Security Council met late on Wednesday to review
the work of the UN's interim mission in Kosovo, which
has been deployed in the region since NATO's bombing
of the former Yugoslavia ended a conflict between
Albanian and Serb forces in 1999.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad
said earlier on Thursday that the Security Council was
in a deadlock over Kosovo's future status, and no
longer had any role to play on the issue.
This had also caused serious concern in Russia,
Kamynin said.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned on Wednesday
that Russia, which has veto power on the UN Security
Council, would block any attempt by an independent
Kosovo to become a member of the United Nations.
Meanwhile, Kosovo's newly elected Prime Minister
Hashim Thaci said Pristina's independence was an
accomplished fact and would be declared as soon as the
United States and the European Union were ready to
recognize it.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
