UNSC session on Kosovo: Call on Unmik to stay in Kosovo
The UN Security Council session on Kosovo on Monday once again showed its deep division over the issue of Kosovo's status as well as over the assessment of the progress made in the southern Serbia province whose ethnic Albanian majority unilaterally declared independence last year.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Russia's representative at the UN Security Council Vitaly Churkin said that the UN mission in Kosovo should keep its administrative functions and urged the implementation of the six-point plan proposed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
He told the UN SC that lawlessness and crime are growing in Kosovo, reducing the chances for the return of displaced Serbs to the province.
"The only chance of improving the situation in Kosovo is if the UN mission were to remain and keep its administrative and political functions, and UN SC should pave the way for resumption of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and implementation of the six-point plan", he said.
As regards EULEX, Churkin said that it is not neutral, in contradiction to Ban's report which did not contain any criticism of that mission.
Attempts to blame Balgrade for all problems in Kosovo make no sense, he said.
"One year after Kosovo proclaimed independence, unemployment is growing and economy has registered no progress. The only things making progress are crime and insecurity of minorities. The reason for this situation as abesence of system and security, and the international forces must therefore remain in Kosovo", Churkin said.
Chinese Representative to the United Nations stated that his country respects Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and pointed out that negotiations are the best solution for the future status of Kosovo.
Upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, China has always considered that the best way to solve the issue of Kosovo is through negotiations and we encourage both sides to reach a shared stand, the Chinese representative underscored.
He added that the Security Council Resolution 1244 is a legal basis for resolving the Kosovo issue.
Addressing the members of the UN Security Council, Serbian President Boris Tadic reminded of the fact that the people of Serbia and Montenegro had been collectively punished and bombed because of an alleged expelling of 800,000 Albanians from Kosovo, and that the result of all that was that after the establishment of international rule, more than 200,000 Serbs had left Kosovo.
"Ten years ago, Serbs were punished with bombs, and ten years after that, in spite of the expulsion of Serbs and the torching of their houses and churches, Kosovo Albanians were rewarded in such a way that over 50 countries decided to recognize the independence of our southern province", Tadic said.
"It is obvious to everyone today that 13 months after the illegal, unilateral declaration of independence Kosovo is no state," he told the council.
Pristina's representative at the session, Skender Hyseni, accused Serbia of stirring trouble in the northern part of the province.
