Serbs Seek New UN Session on Kosovo
By JOHN HEILPRIN – 18 hours ago UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Serbia pressed Thursday for a new Security Council session to oppose Kosovo's secession, backed by chief ally Russia. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said after making the rounds of diplomats from the majority of nations on the 15-member council that have not recognized Kosovo that he was "cautiously optimistic" a meeting could be held next week. "We want to have a debate within the Security Council," Jeremic said in an interview with The Associated Press. "The declaration of independence divided the Security Council, it divided the European Union, it divided the international community at large," he said. Kosovo, which has a 90 percent Albanian majority, declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17 with the backing of the United States and other key Western countries. In response, outraged Serb rioters broke into the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade four days later and set fire to an office amid massive street protests. The Council met in an emergency session on Kosovo for two days last month but was unable to agree on a resolution or joint statement. Kosovo's independence was quickly recognized by Security Council members the United States, Britain, France and Italy. But veto-wielding members that have not recognized Kosovo's independence — Russia and China — have the power to block any attempt by Kosovo to gain a seat on the international body. Britain's deputy U.N. ambassador Karen Pierce said her nation was opposed to a new session on Kosovo. "We don't see the value of a further Security Council meeting, given that positions haven't changed," she told The AP.
