February 17, 2008

UN Security Council meeting tomorrow re KOSOVA?

B92 News Politics Politics
U.S. takes note, Russia wants declaration scrapped
17 February 2008
WASHINGTON, MOSCOW -- The United States took note of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo's Albanians.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Martti Ahtisaari's plan for the province's supervised independence was the "best way for both sides to move forward."

The United States welcomes the Kosovo government's "clear commitment" to carry out provisions of Ahtisaari's plan that aim to protect ethnic minority communities in Kosovo, McCormack said Sunday.

He repeatedly mentioned the U.S. commitment to safeguarding the rights of the Serb minority, outnumbered nine to one by ethnic Albanians.


The U.S. administration is reviewing Kosovo's move and discussing it with its European partners, McCormack said in a statement.

"The United States calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any provocative acts," McCormack said.

The Bush administration has staunchly backed the Ahtisaari plan despite opposition from Russia and Serbia.

But Russia has reacted with a strong condemnation of today's move by Priština, and sought urgent session of the UN Security Council on Monday, where it wishes to see "decisive and efficient measures taken in order to return the Kosovo question to the political level."

A statement from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the unilateral declaration of independence breached Serbia's sovereignty, the UN Charter, Kosovo's constitutional framework, and agreements made within the Contact Group.

Russia wholeheartedly supports the Serbian authorities' reaction and their just demands to renew the country's territorial integrity, the statement said.

In the meantime, President Vladimir Putin's press service said that any state that may recognize Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of secession will be committing an illegal act, and that Russia will "no doubt activate all possible international mechanisms to counter this."


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