VITALY CHURKIN AND THE VETO; Russia's UN Ambassador calls the Kosovo resolution "unacceptable"
What the Papers Say Part B (Russia) - June 5, 2007 Tuesday

By: Dmitri Gornostayev

The authors of the new draft resolution knew all too well that there was nothing new for them to incorporate into the document. "They shifted some paragraphs to new places and withdrew some phrases from the preamble to insert them in the principal part. That was all," said Slovakian UN Ambassador Peter Burian.

Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin confirmed it when the meeting was finally over. "The changes are minor, purely cosmetic. They do not answer a single fundamental objection Russia voiced," Churkin said. Churkin then proceeded to enumerate the prime components of the Russian stand on the matter the document paid no heed to. First, continuation of the status negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina pending mutual agreement (Ahtisaari's plan, the basis of the Western draft resolution, was flatly rejected by Serbia). Second, implementation of neglected Resolution 1244 and particularly its clauses pertaining matters of security and Serbian refugees' return to Kosovo. Moscow emphasized these necessities more than once. Other members of the UN Security Council who made a trip to Kosovo agree to a certain extent that the issues are valid indeed.

In fact, Churkin's criticism of the document did not surprise anyone. What everyone wanted to know was what Russia would do if and when the draft resolution was put to vote.

"The result is obvious, I trust, under the circumstances," Churkin said - clearly trying to avoid the term "veto."

"Does this mean you will veto the resolution?"

"I'd prefer not to use this term until I got my instructions, but you've guessed what I've been thinking."

"The Russian ambassador promised to veto the resolution," said British UN Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry. "He said he was waiting for instructions," he replied. The British made it plain that the Russian offer to have the negotiations continue would be voted down. "This is the case of what's called a killer amendment. What the Russians offer will distort and destroy the very idea of our project."

US Ambassdor Zalmai Halilzad backed his British colleague. "We welcome Russia's willingness to propose and we are open to discussion of constructive ideas. It is time everyone understood, however, that sovereignty of Kosovo is an inevitability."

"If the project is put to vote, we will vote against it," a Russian diplomat said off the record. China would probably follow suit, even though its representatives do not say so for the time being. Critical of the American-European draft resolution and their eagerness to solve the problem as soon as possible, critical of Kosovo separatism in general, Beijing remains reserved. It is waiting for Moscow to formalize its position. Left to its own devices, China would never veto the resolution - only together with Russia. On the other hand, it might abstain from voting.

As for other UN Security Council members, several non-permanent ones may vote against the resolution - African (South African Republic, Congo), Asian and Latin American countries.

Anyway, Russia could scuttle the American-European draft resolution even all by itself. If that happens, the United States is determined to immediately recognize Kosovo's sovereignty when it is proclaimed after the referendum the Albanian majority intends to arrange. The outcome of the referendum is as predictable as the outcome of the vote on the American-European draft resolution of the UN Security Council.

Source: Kommersant, June 5, 2007, p. 10

Translated by A. Ignatkin

Copyright 2007 Agency WPS
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