Russian Federation: Unacceptable Bias in the UN
UN Secretary General’s Bias Unacceptable
Russia opposes UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s support for the plan by the Finn Martti Ahtisaari, in accordance with the basic role of the United Nations, which is not to impose solutions, including the solution for the future Kosovo-Metohija status, Russian Foreign Ministry’s international organizations department chief Alexander Konuzin said on Wednesday.
Russia does not welcome the fact that Ban Ki-moon has backed the Ahtisaari plan on Kosovo, which is aimed at imposing a resolution unacceptable to a UN member state — Serbia, Konuzin said, adding that the United Nations is expected to take into consideration the opinions of all member states, particularly when it comes to thorny international issues.
“We do not subscribe to the view that the UN’s role should be to impose a resolution,” Konuzin said, and added that the secretary general was aware of the fact that two out of five permanent UN Security Council member states [Russia and China] did not accept Ahtisaari’s proposal.
“Russia conveyed its standpoint to the UN secretary general and we are waiting for a response,” the Russian diplomat said, according to the Itar-Tass news agency report.
Negotiating Process Not to be Smothered by the Artificial Haste
Mr. Konuzin also confirmed that Russia does not consider December 10 a strategic date for the resolution of the Kosovo issue and is most strongly opposed to Kosovo recognition in case that the separatists in the Serbian province unilaterally proclaim independence after that date, “as certain countries have been hinting.”
“At present, some countries are sending signals to Pristina separatists that independence of the southern Serbian province can be recognized after December 10. We are categorically against such an approach,” the Russian diplomat said.
Konuzin reiterated that Moscow remains dedicated to seeking just, legal and sustainable solution which can only be reached if there is no artificial haste smothering the negotiating process searching for the solution.
“Russia does not consider December 10 a strategic date for the resolution of the province’s future status. If by this period the parties could not take a mutually advantageous decision, the world community should give them more time to continue talks on the issue,” the ranking official of the Russian Foreign Ministry underlined.
Comments
If I may be so blunt Marti Ahtisaari in the picture above looks like he just had a nasty accident and is in need of clean underwear. Judging by the unfolding scenario most of Ahtisaari's sponsors could soon be faced with same problem. Very aptly chosen picture compliments the text.
Posted by: Bozidar | September 14, 2007 04:37 AM
Excellent point, Bozidar! More people should start wondering why is Ahtisaari always looking like that and, more broadly, like an ill-fitting, uncomfortable and unpleasant-to-be-around lump with an inevitable nasty grimace on his face.
People of faith know that conscience is the first God's law which comes before the Holy Scriptures and the Ten Commandments, something that every single man and woman has "built in", like it or not and regardless of what they choose to believe in (if anything).
I'd say ol' Martti is a living proof of that.
Posted by: Svetlana | September 14, 2007 06:26 AM
I initially clicked on your comments link to compliment the picture, which I have no doubt will be used many more times again, and not just by the Serbs but by many nations struggling to preserve their own territory and identity. This picture is deserving of becoming a symbol of all "anti-Serb negotiations" including "sham Kosovo negotiations" from the justice point of view, and I would urge the Serb parliament that this picture is accepted as an official logo for all future negotiations regarding the Balkans/south-east Europe/East Europe, including Kosovo, Croatia, ex-Bosnia, Albania, Republika Srpska, Macedonia...
However, more reassuringly for the Serbs, this time "the negotiations" are conducted with exposed dark forces for independence of Kosovo, and with Russia's active participation as an equal (or slightly more equal) partner, so chances are that the USA's "attack dogs" [i.e. Croats as quoted by R. Hoolbroke, one of many USA envoys to the Balkans] will not win this time.
Posted by: Tide | September 14, 2007 03:47 PM
That's very true, Tide. This time around Russians are paying attention - the days when State Dept. could just do whatever the hell it wants and wherever it wants are gone for good.
Posted by: Svetlana | September 14, 2007 05:59 PM