RUSSIAN OFFICIAL RULES OUT POSSIBILITY OF KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
BBC Monitoring International Reports - August 23, 2007 Thursday

Text of report by Serbian newspaper Vecernje novosti on 21 August

["Exclusive" interview with Konstantin Kosachov, chairman of the Russian Duma's Foreign Policy Committee and head of the Russian delegation in the Council of Europe, by Nenad Calukovic; place and date not given: "We Are Ready Even To Use Veto"]

I rule out the possibility of the creation of an independent state in Kosovo and Metohija. I believe even less in the possibility of the creation of a NATO state on the territory of Kosovo and Methija, Konstantin Kosachov, the chairman of the Russian Duma's Foreign Policy Committee and head of the Russian delegation in the Council of Europe, said in this exclusive interview given to Novosti.

Commenting on the latest messages addressed by DSS [Democratic Party of Serbia] ministers, primarily, to the United States that it should give up creating a NATO state on the territory of Serbia's southern province, Kosachov, one of the chief architects of Russia's Kosovo policy, said:

"Russia will not allow it, because it runs counter to international law."

[Novosti] Due to what interests is Russia advocating such positions?

[Kosachov] The preservation of excellent relations with Serbia and respect for international law. That is why Russia is ready to accept any compromise reached by Belgrade and Pristina. Our position remains the same - that the negotiating process resumes and both sides be given the possibility and room to reach a compromise.

[Novosti] Do you expect that direct talks will be held between Belgrade and Pristina?

[Kosachov] Of course that I expect that there will be direct talks in the closing phase of the negotiating process. It is the most efficacious form of negotiations. But certain conditions need to be met for direct talks and the basic condition is the absence of any pre-conditions, or, to be more precise, Pristina must at last realize and accept that the status of KiM [Kosovo and Metohija] has not been determined.

[Novosti] 10 December is being mentioned as the deadline by which the negotiations must be concluded. How will Russia react if no compromise, on which you insist, is reached by that time?

[Kosachov] I am absolutely against having any deadlines set in this negotiating process. The process involving a Palestinian state has been going on for scores of years and nobody is making a tragedy out of the fact that no solution has been reached for Palestine by a certain date. The problem of northern Cyprus is also 10 years or so old. In the case of Kosovo the negotiations must last as long as it is necessary for both sides to find a compromise solution. Therefore, Russia's position is clear - no deadlines.

[Novosti] What kind of a scenario do you expect until a decision is taken on the status of Kosovo?

[Kosachov] A status can be arrived at only through negotiations held on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Any kind of a new document on Kosovo can appear only once Resolution 1244 has been implemented. It is Russia's position that a decision on the status of KiM can be taken only after all the displaced persons return. There is no international institution that today could say that the rights of the Serbs are being respected in Kosovo. It is written even in Ahtisaari's bad plan that the rights of the Serbs are not being respected and that their human rights are not protected.

[Novosti] Will you allow the issue of Kosovo's status to be decided in the Contact Group, in which Russia can be outvoted?

[Kosachov] The Contact Group has no authorization to take a decision on the status. It is the sole authority of the UN Security Council to do so.

[Novosti] Will Russia remain firm in its position that it will [as published] resort to veto if the status is decided in the UN Security Council?

[Kosachov] We have never hidden the fact that we might use the right to veto. We do not hide that today either. The partners in the UN Security Council have perfectly well understood that message of ours.

[Novosti] How will you react if there is a unilateral recognition of independence for Kosovo?

[Kosachov] If Kosovo proclaims independence without a UN Security Council decision and if that solution is unilaterally recognized by some states, it will mean a violation of international law. That construction is not firm and an independent Kosovo would not survive. Kosovo would have no prospects if it was to become independent aside from the UN Security Council.

[Novosti] What are your motives for such an international policy regarding the resolution of the Kosovo issue?

[Kosachov] For the first time in history a unitary state would break up without the consent of all the sides. It would not be a disintegration of a federation, as was the case with the former Yugoslavia [SFRY] or USSR. Secondly, for the first time in history it would happen that an ethnic group would proclaim the independence of its territory without the consent of the majority people in that state. And thirdly, if independence of KiM was to be recognized it would mean that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 had not been implemented.

[Novosti] What if all those arguments go down the drain?

[Kosachov] A change of the status without those three criteria would mean a very, very dangerous precedent for Russia. It would be a violation of the basic principles of international law, with unforeseeable consequences for all similar situations in the world. Those are not just Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as some in the world say. According to the UN estimates, there are about 200 situations that are analogous to Kosovo, of which nearly 50 are at a very dangerous stage. Precisely because of that Russia has such motives.

[Novosti] How will you withstand possible pressures from the United States and the European Union for Russia to acquiesce nevertheless?

[Kosachov] If anyone puts pressure on Russia to change its position, let that someone know in advance that it will not succeed. Our position does not suit only the interests of Serbia but also the Russian national interests, and they are a free, democratic, and prosperous Serbia. Only that guarantees peace and stability in the Balkans.

[Box] Relations Were Never Better

[Novosti] Do you agree with the assessment that relations between Serbia and Russia were never better?

[Kosachov] Relations between Serbia and Russia are today at the highest possible level since World War II. All cases that have happened in the last decade have shown that our friendship is strong and firm. We support Serbia, its government and people, and, on the other hand, we feel Serbia's support for the Russian leadership and people. It is very important that our relations are not centred only on the Kosovo issue but are much broader.

[Box] Merits

[Novosti] With which Serbian politician do you cooperate the best?

[Kosachov] With Nenad Popovic, who has done a great deal for cooperation between Serbia and Russia, both politically and economically speaking. He is one of the people who have done most for relations between the states and political parties of Serbia and Russia to be at such a high level.

[Box] There Can Be No Bargaining

[Novosti] Will you persevere in your present position being that it is speculated that with its Kosovo policy Russia is only bargaining with the West?

[Kosachov] That is not true. It is a principled strategic support that Russia will neither depart from nor abandon.

Source: Vecernje novosti, Belgrade, in Serbian 21 Aug 07

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