Russian President Blasts West On Kosovo, Double Standards http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11968373
Interfax February 14, 2008 Supporting unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence illegal, immoral - Putin MOSCOW - The possible unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo would violate international law, President Vladimir Putin told a Thursday press conference in Moscow. "I'd like to emphasize once again that it would be immoral and illegal to support the unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo," he said. ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=17104 Civil Georgia February 14, 2008 Putin: Kosovo will Set a Precedent Tbilisi - Statements that Kosovo is a unique case “are all lies,” Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, said on February 14. Speaking at his annual Kremlin press conference, Putin said: “We believe that supporting unilateral recognition of Kosovo’s independence is neither morally nor legally [correct]. The territorial integrity of the state is among the fundamental principles of the international law. "I don't want to say anything that would offend anyone, but actually the independent Republic of Northern Cyprus exists for already 40 years. Why don’t you recognize it? Are not you, Europeans, ashamed to take a double-standard approach towards resolving similar problems in various parts of the world?” “Here we have Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdnestria – they exist as independent states. "We are always told that Kosovo is a unique case. "These are all lies. That is not a unique case and everybody knows that very well. Everything is similar: the ethnic conflict; crimes committed by both sides; de facto, full independence. "We have to work out a common policy to settle these questions. We are not pushing the situation into a deadlock. We are offering our partners to elaborate common rules of conduct. Why do we have to incite separatism?” ------------------------------------------------------ http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080214/99212987.html Russian Information Agency Novosti February 14, 2008 Putin scolds Europe over double standards on Kosovo MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin rejected on Thursday arguments by European powers that Kosovo is a "special case" in seeking independence, and accused the countries of employing double standards on the issue. The separatist Albanian-dominated province in southern Serbia is expected to unilaterally declare independence on Sunday or Monday, a move backed by the United States and most EU countries. Serbia, Russia and some European states oppose the plans, considering them a violation of international law. During his final annual news conference as Russian president, Putin said: "I don't want to offend anyone, but Northern Cyprus has been a de facto independent republic for 40 years. Why then don't you recognize it? Aren't you, Europeans, ashamed of applying double standards in solving identical problems in different parts of the world?" Russia has repeatedly said that granting Kosovo sovereignty could serve as a precedent and trigger a chain reaction for secessionist regions throughout the world, including in Greece, Spain, Georgia, Moldova and Cyprus. But countries supporting Kosovo's independence insist that the case is unique, and that there is no threat of weakening international law. Putin said: "There is nothing unique about this problem and everyone knows this. It is all the same: an interethnic conflict, crimes on both sides and a complete de facto independence." He said Serbia's territorial integrity was fixed in UN Security Council Resolution 1244, adopted in 1999 following NATO bombings that ended a bloody conflict between Albanian and Serb forces in Kosovo, so "all UN member states must follow its provisions." The president called for uniform rules for solving such problems, and warned that international law and order would otherwise be undermined. However, Putin assured that if Western countries acknowledge Kosovo's independence, Russia has no plans to seek "non-legal" retaliation. A plan for Kosovo's independence failed in UN Security Council discussions. Russia, a veto-wielding member of the council, maintains that a solution should be based on a compromise between Belgrade and Pristina, and calls for security and humanitarian problems to be rectified in the province. Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
