Chizhov: An EU mission possible only with Belgrade approval and UNSC resolution
Some kind of EU mission could be deployed in Kosovo only with the approval of the host state – Serbia – and with the appropriate resolution of the UN Security Council of the United Nations, the Russian ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, June 24, 2008
He said Russia was against the Eulex mission because it was "serving the implementation of the Ahtisaari plan, which represents the roadmap for the independence of Kosovo".
"We would not, however, have anything against some EU mission to Kosovo if it was legimitate and in accordance with international law - which means it would need to have an approval from the host country - Serbia - and the appropriate resolution of the UN Security Council", Chizhov said.
The Russian ambassador said that the Friday meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday was "useful", but that it "did not bring a solution".
Chizhov said the UN resolution 1244 gave a mandate to Unmik which was "unlimited in time and could be changed or terminated only by a UN SC resolution".
"The EU mission can be one of the pillars of Unmik... but it cannot come to Kosovo and take away competencies from Unmik", the Russian ambassador said.
He said that "nothing has been resolved in terms of the Kosovo status".
"Recognition by 43 out of 200 countries is not a solution. It certainly isn't. We believe that every solution must be agreed and not imposed, because every imposed solution is short-lived", the Russian ambassador said.
