AZERBAIJAN: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated Moscow's opposition to a Western-backed draft on the future of Kosovo

Record ID: 217931

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated Moscow's opposition to a Western-backed draft on the future of Kosovo
  • Date: 22nd May 2007
  • Summary: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV ATTENDING WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AT MONUMENT FOR FIRST AZERI PRESIDENT HAIDAR ALIYEV RIBBON WITH THREE COLOURS OF RUSSIAN FLAG ON WREATH SOLDIER WALKING PAST WREATH AT MONUMENT
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAATVIQBQVNK44GNXMVN6YM5IH4
  • Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated Moscow's opposition to a Western-backed plan for Kosovo on Monday (May 21), saying a draft U.N. resolution that would endorse independence for the Serbian province under international supervision should be accepted by both sides of the conflict.
    Lavrov made the remarks while on a two-day visit to the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. He stopped short of threatening a veto if the draft goes to a vote in the Security Council, but his remark underlined divisions on the plan.
    The U.S. and European Union nations circulated a draft resolution earlier this month endorsing supervised independence for Kosovo, in line with the recommendation of a U.N. envoy.
    "Kosovo is an issue that worries a lot of people at the moment. The main thing is that decisions on the future status of this region should not be taken in the circumstances that my create a precedent and affect many parts of the world and will destabilise the situation further. I mean in this case some are now trying to make decisions that are unacceptable to one of the sides, Serbs in this case. A solution to any conflict, despite its nature or location, should be based on the consent of both parties, " Lavrov told a news conference after talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
    Kosovo, impoverished and ethnically segregated, has been run by the United Nations since NATO went to war in 1999 to drive out Serb forces and halt the slaughter of 10,000 Albanians and expulsion of 800,000 in a two-year war against insurgents.
    The U.S. has predicted a resolution this month. Diplomats say it was encouraged to push the process forward after U.N. ambassadors saw firsthand the futility of more Serb-Albanian talks during a tour of Kosovo in April.
    U.N. envoy Matti Ahtisaari ended 13 months of fruitless Serb-Albanian talks in March, saying an agreement was impossible. Independence, he said, was the only viable option, with EU supervision and broad self-government for the 100,000 Serbs.
    Serbia has rejected independence for its spiritual heartland.
    At the United Nations, the Russian ambassador has said Russia could use its veto, and Moscow has circulated elements for a rival Security Council resolution urging more talks between ethnic Albanian and Serbian leaders and efforts to protect minorities and facilitate their return to pre-war homes in Kosovo.
    Kosovo leaders have indicated they will declare independence even if Russia uses its veto, a move the U.S. most likely would support, but it would split the 27-nation EU.
    Russia has close historical and cultural ties with predominantly Orthodox Christian, Slavic Serbia, and vocally opposed the NATO bombing campaign.
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