Russia: EU mission possible only as part of Unmik
Russia would be ready to cooperate with an European Union mission in Kosovo but only provided it is a part of the local United Nations mission UNMIK and has the approval of Belgrade and of the United Nations Security Council for its deployment, Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov said on Monday.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Reiterating Russia's serious concern over the decision of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the beginning of UNMIK's reconfiguration, Titov said that Russia is in principle not opposed to the strengthening of the EU role in Kosovo, having in mind the aspirations of Balkan states, including Serbia to join the EU.
'However, that role should be realized within international law, and the corresponding EU structures should be incorporated into the UN Mission with the approval of Belgrade, and, in keeping with that, with the approval of the UN Security Council. In such circumstances, we could cooperate productively with the EU mission as a part of UNMIK," Titov said, underlining that it is not clear why Russia's partners "persistently do not want to abide by the rules."
The European structures - EULEX, EU Special Representative Pieter Feith, and the "International Steering Group" for Kosovo are not legal, Titov said, pointing out that "in taking a one-sided approach, they are not working for stability in the region but for the reinforcement of the conflict potential."
