Divided Security Council fails to solve Kosovo crisis
United Nations Security Council, the most powerful body of the world organization, on Wednesday could not define future moves in the process aimed at solving the Kosovo crisis, as key powers, Russia and the U.S., remained deeply divided on the prospects of the Serbian province, and just a tiny fragment closer in observation that the “status quo” cannot be sustained any longer.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, December 20, 2007
The key exchange of arguments between the world's top powers included Russian assessment of unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence as "extremely illegal" move which contradicts the UN Charter and Resolution 1244, and Western claims that Security Council simply cannot solve the long-standing issue of province's future status and that decisive moves should be taken in Brussels.
"We just saw the Council divided on optimists and pessimists. This is not the last time that Security Council debates Kosovo issue", said Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin following the "behind the closed door" meeting in New York.
Churkin also said that Russia will never recognize the independence of Kosovo, and argued that many other nations represented in the light-blue skyscraper on New York's East River share the similar view, mainly due to a fact that such a move would be in conflict with the international law.
"Russia will urge the UN to disregard such a move and make Kosovo leaders declare it null-and-void", he said.
China took the similar stance urging two sides to reach a compromise solution trough a fresh round of negotiations, but also called the wide international community to redefine the approach towards the Kosovo crisis.
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica sought to explain the repercussions of hasty moves towards the independent Kosovo as serious violations of UN Charter and international law.
"Serbia defended strongly and firmly its territorial integrity and sovereignty. We also defended the idea that negotiations cannot be stopped or blocked. The Security Council should be dedicated to searching for a compromise. What is the alternative to respect of international law?" said Kostunica.
For the first time in the past eight years, a Kosovo President -- on this occasion Fatmir Sejdiu -- had a chance to address the gathering, saying that the Kosovo Albanians waited for decades to be able to run their own affairs and open the way for closer cooperation with major international financial institutions.
"We are ready to take steps towards the declaration of independence", Sejdiu said.
Albanian wishes were almost immediately supported by the U.S. and the EU who stated that all possibilities that a mutually acceptable solution would be reached through negotiations has been exhausted.
"This was a D-Day for Kosovo status...There is no agreement and it is clear that there will be no further negotiations. The EU is ready to take a responsibility for the future of Kosovo", said Belgian Ambassador Johan Verbeke.
