China calls for more direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina

China calls for more direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina
Itar-Tass - July 20, 2007 Friday 05:54 PM EST

UNITED NATIONS, July 21 - China like several other members of the U.N. Security Council deems it necessary to give more time to Belgrade and Pristina to hold talks on the Kosovo status. The problem is ``vital, complicated and sensitive,'' China's Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya told reporters upon the end of consultations on Kosovo.

He believes the United Nations Security Council also needs additional time for the Kosovo issue because ``any decision will have serious consequences not only for the region but also for other countries.''

Asked to comment on new negotiations on Kosovo, Wang Guangya said that they should be based on the underlying principles of international law, such as territorial integrity, unity and respect for sovereignty.''

Beijing believes the Kosovo problem can only be solved by means of negotiations between the two parties - the Serbs and the Kosovo Albanians.

``If they agree with each other, we will be ready to respect their wish, but if there is no consent, China will find it difficult to agree that the U.N. Security Council should impose their decision on them,'' the Chinese ambassador went on to say.

In the meantime, Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has described the U.N. Security Council decision to transfer the debates on the Kosovo status to the international Contact Group as a victory for Belgrade and Moscow.

``The united and principled policy of Serbia and Russia has ensured them a major victory at the U.N. Security Council in the cause of defending the universal principles of international law as well as Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity,'' Kostunica stressed.

``The fact that the draft resolution which was supposed to pave the way for Kosovo's independence has been recalled is of enormous significance for Serbia. It is the victory of law over attempts to cut away a large part of Serbia's territory,'' Kostunica went on to say.

He stressed that Belgrade was ready for a new round of talks with Pristina on Kosovo status.