China and Russia: an imposed solution for Kosovo is unacceptable

In separate visits to China and Russia, Serbia's Foreign Affairs and Kosovo ministers Vuk Jeremic and Slobodan Samardzic urged for support to the talks led by the international troika and to a solution which would not endanger the country's territorial integrity.

"I think I can say that we share your government's principles and stands that issues in the international arena have to be resolved through patient dialogues. I am very pleased that we've established the same point of view in this respect," Jeremic said after meeting Chinese vice-president Zeng Quinghong and Foreign minister Yang Jiechi.

Jeremic re-emphasized Serbia's opposition to both an imposed solution and time limits on the negotiating process.

He warned that "the forcible division of Serbia by recognizing the secessionist aspirations of the Kosovo Albanians is a direct blow to the international order." It would be a dangerous precedent impacting not only the stability of Southeastern Europe, but the security of other world regions as well, according to Jeremic.

Jeremic added that he had been told by vice-president Zeng that, when it came to the UN Security Council, China would oppose any outcome that was unacceptable to either side. The minister stressed that he was very pleased with the way the talks with the Chinese leadership had gone, during which they agreed that any solution to the Kosovo problem had to stem from a compromise.

According to a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Zeng told Jeremic that China will make concerted efforts with the Serbian side to consolidate political mutual trust and that it appreciates Serbia's support to the one-China policy.

"We will never change our policy of actively developing ties with Serbia, no matter how the situation in the west Balkan region and international situation change," Yang told Jeremic.

Meanwhile in Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov told Serbia's Kosovo minister Slobodan Samardzic that any deadlines in determining the Kosovo status would be unacceptable.

"It was particularly noted that setting any deadlines in the status process is unacceptable, that it must remain under control of the United Nations Security Council which is supposed to make a final decision on Kosovo status that is acceptable to both parties," the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

Russia believes a decision must be made between the two sides - Belgrade and Pristina - and should not include the UN-sponsored Ahtisaari plan, which suggests granting supervised independence to Kosovo. This proposal was rejected by Belgrade and has been repeatedly criticised as unfair by Russia.

Samardzic said Russia wants to advocate more dynamic negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and put the status of the province, not post-status issues, at the center of the talks.

Samardzic expressed satisfaction with the assurance he received from Russian mediator Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko that, through the troika, he would try to intensify the negotiating process and the direct contact between Belgrade and Pristina.

He added this would be a way to caution the Kosovo Albanian side that it needs to analyze Belgrade's offer of substantial autonomy based on international legal standards.

Samardzic and his Russian counterparts agreed that with a unilateral recognition of Kosovo, the international legal order in the province, which is regulated by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244, would be transformed into uncertainty and anarchy.