Reports: Russian FM says Kosovo independence
would have "the most negative consequences"
Associated Press Worldstream - February 16, 2007 Friday, 5:00 PM GMT
MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday that granting
independence for Kosovo would have "the most negative consequences" for the
Balkans and Europe, Russian media reported some of the strongest language yet on
an issue that has deepened Moscow's disagreements with the West.
The remarks were Russia's latest criticism of a U.N. plan that envisages
supervised statehood for the troubled Balkan province. Lavrov and other
officials in Russia, a traditional ally of Serbia, have expressed concern that
the plan would give Kosovo independence, and said a deal must be negotiated and
acceptable to both sides.
Lavrov reiterated a warning issued in September that Russia could use its veto
power in the U.N. Security Council if it disagreed with a proposal by U.N. envoy
Martti Ahtisaari, according to remarks reported by the RIA-Novosti news agency.
The proposal must be approved by the U.N. Security Council to take effect.
"There exists a fairly insistent idea among our Western partners to swiftly
propose a resolution that would approve Ahtisaari's plan," RIA-Novosti quoted
Lavrov as saying. He said Russia would only consider such a resolution if the
Serbian and Kosovo leaderships agreed on the plan or an amended version.
"As regards Kosovo we are convinced that providing that granting this territory
independence will have the most negative consequences for the region and for
Europe as a whole," the agency quoted Lavrov as saying. "Our Western partners
are convinced of the opposite."
Lavrov apparently did not say what potential consequences he had in mind. Putin
has warned the West that granting Kosovo independence would serve as precedent
for other nations with similar cases, including pro-Russian breakaway provinces
in the ex-Soviet republics of Georgia and Moldova whose sovereignty claims are
dismissed by the United States and Europe.
Kosovo has been a U.N. protectorate since 1999, when NATO airstrikes that were
adamantly criticized by Moscow stopped Serbia's crackdown on separatist ethnic
Albanian rebels. Belgrade insists the province must remain a part of Serbia,
whereas its majority ethnic Albanians seek independence.
Serbia's new parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected Ahtisaari's plan,
which envisages internationally supervised self-rule for Kosovo, including a
flag, anthem, army, constitution and the right to join international
organizations.
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