Byzantine Blog

Dangerous Delusions and Warmongering

Ahead of his departure for New York on Tuesday, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said that part of the so-called international community which thinks it is possible to impose Kosovo-Metohija independence on Serbia is dangerously delusional.

“The misconception by one part of the international community that it is possible to impose the solution on Serbia and that Serbia will eventually recognize an independent state of Kosovo in its territory, which would be contrary to the UN Charter and to the Serbian Constitution, is dangerous,” Kostunica told Tanjug ahead of his Wednesday departure for New York, where the Belgrade delegation and Albanian Pristina secessionists will meet for the first time in this phase of negotiations on September 28.

Unilateral Independence Can Neither be Implemented Nor Sustained

According to the Serbian Premier, the most important thing at this point is that everyone who has a responsible approach towards the resolution of the Serbian province’s future organization takes into consideration that unilateral independence can neither be implemented, nor sustained.

“It is necessary that all three parties in New York, above all the international community, clearly oblige themselves that they will back only a negotiated solution and that they will not resort to unilateral solutions,” Kostunica said.

“Such an agreement would open the door to a compromise solution, which would guarantee long-lasting stability, peace, and prosperity of the Albanian ethnic minority in the province and in the state of Serbia,” said Kostunica.

Lavrov: Violation of the International Law is Not a “Solution”

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, said in New York that claims Kosovo province’s independence is allegedly “inevitable” are only serving to undermine the negotiations, pushing one side to refuse to compromise.

While most of the international community is keen on seeing Belgrade and Pristina reach the agreed solution, “some say that, if that doesn’t happen, we need to ‘face the reality’ which, according to them, boils down to the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence,” Lavrov told Russian media at the 62-nd UN General Assembly.

“That is wrong,” Russian Itar-tass news agency reported Lavrov’s statement.

Kosovo problem can only be solved on the basis of the international law, and verified by the UN Security Council resolution which can only be adopted once both sides agree upon the solution, Lavrov said.

“Until that happens, the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 remains in force and all the attempts to bypass that resolution will represent the violation of the international law,” stressed Russian Foreign Minister.

Those Who Care About Peace and Stability and Respect the Law are Helping, Others are Advocating Unilateral Moves

He said that the mediating Troika of the Contact Group, representatives of the U.S, Russia and EU, is preparing direct negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina.

“Troika is coordinating mutually acceptable directions of this process. The two sides need to find the solution — there is no other way,” Lavrov said.

Direct negotiations between Serbia’s State Negotiating Team and Albanian secessionists representing ethnic Albanian minority in southern Serbian province of Kosovo is expected to start on Sept. 28 in New York, following the meeting of the Contact Group member-states’ ministers.

“Everyone who cares about the peace and stability in the Balkans, the respect for the international law and prevention of dangerous and detrimental precedents are doing all they can to help sides reach, directly, mutually acceptable solution,” said Lavrov.

P.S. Do you think Miss Rice has just qualified for her own boulevard in Kosovo... or at least a dead-end street?