MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned yesterday against any “unilateral decision” on the status of Kosovo after meeting his Serbian counterpart Vuk Draskovic in Moscow.
“We have always advocated a resolution of the Kosovo problem through negotiations. There can be no question that one of the parties imposes any kind of unilateral decision,” Lavrov told reporters.
“The key is to find a variant that satisfies both parties. There can be no question of a (UN) Security Council resolution until this has been found,” Lavrov said.
UN negotiator Martti Ahtisaari is expected to present a document later this month on his plans for Kosovo after eight-month old talks faltered between the Serbian government and the leaders of the province’s ethnic-Albanian majority.
Yesterday, Draskovic said he was “very grateful” to Russia “for supporting Serbia to protect the territorial integrity of our state and to approach compromise, a sustainable solution”.
Russia, a traditional ally of Serbia, on Tuesday hailed the adoption of a new constitution for Serbia that seeks to cement Belgrade’s authority over Kosovo in a referendum last weekend.
Copyright 2006 Agence France-Presse
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