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RF MFA: Kosovo Unilateral Independence Irresponsible Step

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  • RF MFA: Kosovo Unilateral Independence Irresponsible Step

    RF MFA: KOSOVO UNILATERAL INDEPENDENCE IRRESPONSIBLE STEP

    PanARMENIAN.Net
    12.02.2008 17:14 GMT+04:00

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on
    Tuesday a move towards the declaration of unilateral independence
    by Kosovo an irresponsible step that undermines the principles of
    international law.

    Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said last Friday that the
    Albanian-dominated province was close to declaring independence from
    Serbia, and its government was closely cooperating with international
    organizations to alleviate any problems that may arise.

    Top European Union diplomats have said they expect Kosovo's
    independence to be declared on February 17.

    "We are speaking here about the subversion of all the foundations
    of international law, about the subversion of those principles
    which, at huge effort, and at the cost of Europe's pain, sacrifice
    and bloodletting have been earned and laid down as a basis of its
    existence, we are speaking about a subversion of those principles
    on which the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
    rests on, those [principles] laid down in the fundamental documents
    of the UN."

    "Nobody can offer a clear plan of action in the case of a chain
    reaction [of further declarations of unilateral independence]. It
    turns out that they are planning to act in a hit or miss fashion in
    an issue of paramount importance. This is simply inadmissible and
    irresponsible," the Russian diplomat said.

    "I sincerely fail to comprehend the principles guiding our American
    colleagues, and those European [countries] who have taken up this
    position," he added.

    Of the 27 EU states, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia, Bulgaria and
    Romania have joined Serbia and Russia in opposing independence for
    Kosovo, saying the move could set a dangerous precedent for other
    breakaway territories.

    Lavrov also accused those insisting on the uniqueness of the Kosovo
    problem of applying double standards.

    "They are saying that Kosovo is unique, and it turns out that
    international law can be defied there with the approval of others. This
    will not happen," he said, RIA Novosti reports.

    Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov announced on
    Sunday that his country had no plans to recognize the sovereignty
    of separatist South Ossetia and Abkhazia if Kosovo is declared
    independent. South Ossetia and Abkhazia declared independence from
    Georgia following bloody conflicts in the wake of the Soviet Union's
    1991 collapse.

    According to Serbian media, among UN Security Council members, Russia,
    China, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Africa oppose independence for
    Kosovo. The U.S., Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and Panama have been
    calling for the province's independence. Of the remaining Security
    Council members, Libya, Croatia, Costa Rica and Burkina Faso have
    not yet formulated their respective positions.

    Kosovo has been a UN protectorate since the NATO bombing of the former
    Yugoslavia ended a conflict between Albanian and Serb forces in 1999.
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