Russia: Plan for north "private initiative"

The adoption of the strategy for the north of Kosovo does not fall within the competence of EU Special Representative Peter Feith, but is rather only a private initiative, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said, according to a Tanjug news agency report.

"This document was drafted by the Office of EU Special Representative in the province Pieter Feith, whom the countries which support Kosovo's independence consider to be the international civilian representative," he said.

Feith announced the plan to bring the northern, Serb-inhabited parts of Kosovo under the control of the Pristina-based Kosovo Albanian government in his capacity of the International Civilian Office (ICO) chief; he holds another office, that of EU's special representative.

Beta news agency is reporting from Moscow that Nesterenko pointed out that the leading role in solving the Kosovo problem lies with the UN Security Council, and added that this was clearly stated in UNSCR 1244, which is still in force.

Nesterenko went on to explain that in the province itself, the UN mission chief has the control function in the realization of the civilian mission.

"The special EU representative has not been vested with the powers by the UN Security Council to produce practical solutions for Kosovo," the Russian diplomat was quoted as saying.

Echoing earlier statements heard from official Belgrade, Nesterenko said that Moscow does not consider the ICO to be legitimate, since it is based on the so-called Ahtisaari plan - that was never approved by the Security Council, and is therefore not valid.

Besides this, the Russian MFA spokesman continued, the strategy for northern Kosovo has not even been harmonized or determined within the EU framework.

"This is about a profoundly private initiative, which represents no basis for action, or recommendation for those international structures present in the province," said Nesterenko.

He added that it appears that "Pristina's sponsors" are not abandoning hope that they could manage to change the present status quo and impose the concept of Kosovo's independence to local Serbs, by means of circumventing the established international and legal procedures.

The Russian diplomat described such approach as carrying great potential for conflict.

"We are calling on all interested sides to approach the situation in a responsible manner, and undertake the necessary measures in order to rule out a perspective of such developments," Nesterneko concluded.