Byzantine Blog

Moscow Ready to Recognize Russian-Majority Regions in the Neighborhood as Independent States

Reuters reports about an unnamed Russian diplomat who “hinted” on Wednesday that Moscow would recognize the Russian-majority regions in the territory of former Soviet Union as independent states, in case West allows unilateral proclamation of independence by the Albanian separatists in southern Serbian province of Kosovo.

Many other Russian representatives, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Putin himself, have openly said that there would be nothing to prevent Russian Federation from recognizing independence of Russian-majority regions in the former Soviet Union in case West decides to impose dismemberment of Serbia, directly violating the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 1244. But Reuters reporters might’ve missed those earlier “hints.”

At the same time, RTS carried the latest statements of two named high officials of Russian Federation.

Kosovo Can Never Become a UN Member

“The United Nations will never recognize the unilateral independence of Kosovo and Metohija,” said Russia’s Permanent EU Representative Vladimir Chizhov. He also did not exclude the possibility of extending the negotiating Troika’s mandate beyond December 10. In addition, the issue can be referred back to the Contact Group, or a new mediator can be appointed.

According to Chizhov, allowing the unilateral proclamation would represent “a blow to the UN authority, since United Nations have never recognized the unilaterally declared independence.”

“Russia will never allow this,” said Russian diplomat, as reported by the Itar-Tass agency from Brussels.

Chizhov added that “only viable is a solution reached through the negotiations” and warned that, in case of the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo independence, the states that recognize it will “make a strategic mistake of global proportions,” consequences of which will reverberate “not only in the Balkans, but throughout Europe and through all of the unrecognized territories.”

UN Security Council will Determine the Format of Belgrade-Pristina Dialog After December 10

Head of the Russian mission in Brussels noted that negotiations about the status of Serbian province mediated by the Contact Group Troika are going better than expected. “Certain success has already been achieved,” he said, adding that at the last meetings in Brussels and Vienna Serbs and Albanian separatists talked directly to each other, while earlier each side addressed the Troika only.

Ideally, Belgrade and Pristina should be able to continue the negotiations directly, without mediators, Chizhov said, adding that Moscow does not view December 10 as the day when Troika’s mandate ends, nor as the end of negotiations. At that time, Troika should submit its progress report to the UN Secretary General, based on which the Security Council will determine the format of the future dialog.

Vladimir Chizhov confirmed that the issue of Serbian Kosovo-Metohija province will be discussed during the upcoming Russia-EU Summit scheduled for October 26, in Portugal.

International Community Cannot be Blackmailed

Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Titov said that raising tensions over the date when mediating Troika is to submit its progress report to the UN Secretary General — December 10 — is “unjustified and largely counterproductive.” He warned that unilateral proclamation of Serbian province’s independence would have “an infectious” effect on all the other contested territories.

“No one has the right to blackmail the international community. There can be no unilateral actions and decisions,” Titov told Itar-Tass agency at the end of his Balkan tour. He added that development of the Kosovo province situation will determine the perspective of the entire Balkan peninsula.

According to the high Russian representative, Moscow holds that “the aspect of time cannot be decisive” for resolving the future of Serbian province.

Titov said that on December 10 Contact Group’s Troika is expected to submit its report to the UN Secretary General, who will then present it to the Security Council. “The UN Security Council will review the situation and determine future steps,” stressed Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.

Unilateral Moves would Infect Other Contested Regions

Summing up the result of his talks in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia and Bulgaria, Titov said that the compromise solution, reached through negotiations, will bring peace to the Balkans and beyond.

He warned that the unilateral proclamation of independence would be “infectious for other contested regions,” not only on the territory of the former Soviet Union, but also in Europe.

According to Titov, Balkan is the region with great potentials, where the inter-ethnic conflicts are fading, but the main challenge is to resolve the situation in Kosovo-Metohija. “The perspective of entire Balkans depends on how this situation develops,” said Titov.

He stressed that all the Balkan states, including Albania with its specific position, agree that solution for the Serbian province should be reached through compromise, by peaceful means and through negotiations. That is the only kind of solution, said Titov, that would not cause any negative consequences in the region and beyond.