NEW YORK -- The UN Security Council is meeting behind closed doors in New York today to discuss the latest Kosovo developments.
Source: B92, Beta, Tanjug
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"We believe that the announcement of Priština institutions that they might declare independence in the next few days represents a serious threat to international peace and stability in the world," Jeremić told the Serbian state television and added that Serbia urged a compromise solution.
"If independence is declared, despite a warning which Serbia, Russia and many other countries will make this evening, I will present to the Security Council Serbia's firm stand that such a decision will be completely null and void, illegitimate and without any legal effect for us. It will seriously threaten peace and stability in the Western Balkans and most likely in other parts of the world," Jeremić said.
"I expect that we will get support for such a stand, for efforts to find a compromise solution that can never be the fruit of any unilateral moves," Jeremić said, and added that Serbia would request from the Security Council to adopt a conclusion condemning and preventing the declaration of independence.
In the meantime, Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said his country will continue to offer to Serbia the necessary political and diplomatic support and intends to express its strong warning at the UN Security Council session dedicated to the Kosovo crisis, "in case of any act of repression against Kosovo Serbs who might disagree with possible unilateral declaration of the province's independence."
This is one of Russia's basic tasks at the forthcoming UN SC session, he said.
"Serbia is continuing to fight bravely for preserving its territorial integrity, and Russia never abandons its friends in need," Churkin said.
He emphasized that resumption of negotiations in Kosovo status is possible provided the right political decisions are taken, adding that Russia will make it clear that the UN SC continues to play a key role in resolving the Kosovo issue.
Russia will continue to advocate the search for a negotiated, political and legal solution, he noted.
A special session was called on Wednesday, Beta news agency reported, at the request of Russia and Serbia, in connection with announcements regarding the province's ethnic Albanians unilateral declaration of independence, expected "in the near future."
Jeremić will take part in the meeting and voice Serbia's fierce opposition to the possible declaration of Kosovo independence, saying that it would represent a violation of international law, Resolution 1244, and the Serbian Constitution, and would destabilize the region.
"I will ask the Security Council to do everything they can to prevent this," Jeremić said in Belgrade yesterday ahead of his trip to New York.
"We want peace, compromise, a prosperous European future for the whole west Balkan region," explained the foreign minister.
Security Council President Ricardo Arias explained the form the meeting will take. "The UN Security Council has agreed for the session to take the form of a private debate where the Serbian foreign minister will take part, at his own request. Only Council members will be able to address the meeting."
The session was called after the Serbian ambassador to the UN, Pavle Jevremović, on Feb. 12 lodged an official request for a Security Council meeting to be held to discuss Kosovo, and the request was supported by Russia.
In a letter to the chairman of the UN Security Council, Jevremović requested this body to consider "the exceedingly dangerous situation in the Serbian province of Kosovo, where we are witnessing the final preparations for a unilateral declaration of independence."
Jevremović stated that this declaration of independence would represent a violation of Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council, which installed a UN administration in Kosovo and allowed the arrival of NATO troops, but guaranteed the territorial integrity of Serbia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated yesterday in Slovenia that he was not optimistic regarding the Security Council's session on Kosovo.
Lavrov added that it would be "a serious mistake" not to "use this opportunity before the body, which laid the foundations for a peaceful solution in Kosovo through Resolution 1244."
According to reports by foreign news agencies, diplomats in New York do not expect the meeting to result in anyone changing their position regarding this issue, Beta said.
i agree that albanians in kosovo should celebrate, it's a good way to ease tension. i remember in june 1999, milosevic was organizing celebrations because serbia defeated nato he said. it was all over his media. this kinda thing is done sometimes. what i would like to know is this: say on sunday, albanians declare independence. serbia rejects it, un doesnt even debate it. what will have changed for albanians on monday? economically it will be worse no doubt. serbs in north will reject it, so that the un-eu-nato controlled territory we know as kosovo today will even be shrinking.
i'm sure one hundred years of separatism with nothing to show for it, no unification with albania, no independence either, is frustrating and difficult. so, celebrate, that's better than burning churches from unesco's heritage list ;)
but i suggest when you actually have borders, and have an army that secures them, your judges in your courts, your police and seat at the un, you should celebrate independence. otherwise people will say you're not serious :)
but i like you all the same or even more, because i'm seldom serious myself so i identify with that attitude :)
remember, albanians, you believe that you were a constituent part of form. yugo. then, do not accept less than other parts, why are you worse than slovenia, croatia, monte, macedonia, serbia and even unfortunate bosnia?
demand to have your state borders, your un seat, your flag at east river, your army, the works.
do not fail me now ;)
and keep us posted on the investment boom. when status settles, investments follow, that's the rule. hm.
will kosovo's status have settled though, what do you think? or are we just starting in more ways than one... time will tell.
(smile, 14 February 2008 21:52)
What a farce this is! Russia blocked the normal proceedings of UNSC with the threat of a veto when Ahtisaari package was on the table, and now it wants to use the same body to get its way. Peaceful solution? The reason why Russia blocked the vote on Ahtisaari was exactly to incite conflict in the region, hoping that Albanians would start rioting and Kosova would become a second Palestine.
Let the UNSC vote on two parallel resolutions: One to implement Ahtisaari as proposed by the West and to recognize Kosova as independent and in UN and the second to prevent Kosova's independence as proposed by Russia. With the agreement that no veto will be used in both resolutions, only a majority vote. And let's see which one will win and which one will lose.
(Adrian Gashi, 14 February 2008 20:45)
International law remains and 1244 remains - illegal declaration followed by illegal recognition represents by those participating nations in NATO qualifies as an illegal occupation - now lets just leave it that this is no different in that respect then illegal occupation of any other UN recognised member state - can the UN turn a blind eye to that? Maybe the ones acting Illegally would like to think so but they need to realise they are thus in breah and are acting as violent occupiers as far as Serbian sovereignty is concerned - time will come when all diplomatic and legal channels have been persued and if the illegal occupiers remain then that does leave very little option bar one!
(Princip, UK, 14 February 2008 18:38)
Russia can block SC resolutions, but it can't pass resolutions by itself. US could veto any resolutions just like Russia could. So it's useless to go to SC, it's been rendered useless as an organization. What does Serbia except to get out of UNSC with just Russia's help?
(AC, 14 February 2008 16:57)
It is the last time that Serbia has the chance to cry with "crocodile" tears.
It is ALL OVER.
Unfortunately Vuk Jeremic decided to spend some more money of serb taxes in order to come to the United Nations here in New York.
Vuk Jeremic seems to be a smart person, but unfortunately he is being dictated by Kostunica.
(Afrim Hoxha, 14 February 2008 14:51)
Guys, tomorrow, Friday 15 February, 2008 is the Big Day. Kosova will be declared independent. Congratulations to all of us. This means that today's session of the SC of UN is completely usseles. (B92,I hope that this time you won't ignore my comment. You are not enough efficient, are you)
(belokapac, 14 February 2008 12:06)
International law remains and 1244 remains - illegal declaration followed by illegal recognition represents by those participating nations in NATO qualifies as an illegal occupation - now lets just leave it that this is no different in that respect then illegal occupation of any other UN recognised member state - can the UN turn a blind eye to that? Maybe the ones acting Illegally would like to think so but they need to realise they are thus in breah and are acting as violent occupiers as far as Serbian sovereignty is concerned - time will come when all diplomatic and legal channels have been persued and if the illegal occupiers remain then that does leave very little option bar one!
(Princip, UK, 14 February 2008 18:38)
i agree that albanians in kosovo should celebrate, it's a good way to ease tension. i remember in june 1999, milosevic was organizing celebrations because serbia defeated nato he said. it was all over his media. this kinda thing is done sometimes. what i would like to know is this: say on sunday, albanians declare independence. serbia rejects it, un doesnt even debate it. what will have changed for albanians on monday? economically it will be worse no doubt. serbs in north will reject it, so that the un-eu-nato controlled territory we know as kosovo today will even be shrinking.
i'm sure one hundred years of separatism with nothing to show for it, no unification with albania, no independence either, is frustrating and difficult. so, celebrate, that's better than burning churches from unesco's heritage list ;)
but i suggest when you actually have borders, and have an army that secures them, your judges in your courts, your police and seat at the un, you should celebrate independence. otherwise people will say you're not serious :)
but i like you all the same or even more, because i'm seldom serious myself so i identify with that attitude :)
remember, albanians, you believe that you were a constituent part of form. yugo. then, do not accept less than other parts, why are you worse than slovenia, croatia, monte, macedonia, serbia and even unfortunate bosnia?
demand to have your state borders, your un seat, your flag at east river, your army, the works.
do not fail me now ;)
and keep us posted on the investment boom. when status settles, investments follow, that's the rule. hm.
will kosovo's status have settled though, what do you think? or are we just starting in more ways than one... time will tell.
(smile, 14 February 2008 21:52)
It is the last time that Serbia has the chance to cry with "crocodile" tears.
It is ALL OVER.
Unfortunately Vuk Jeremic decided to spend some more money of serb taxes in order to come to the United Nations here in New York.
Vuk Jeremic seems to be a smart person, but unfortunately he is being dictated by Kostunica.
(Afrim Hoxha, 14 February 2008 14:51)
Guys, tomorrow, Friday 15 February, 2008 is the Big Day. Kosova will be declared independent. Congratulations to all of us. This means that today's session of the SC of UN is completely usseles. (B92,I hope that this time you won't ignore my comment. You are not enough efficient, are you)
(belokapac, 14 February 2008 12:06)
Russia can block SC resolutions, but it can't pass resolutions by itself. US could veto any resolutions just like Russia could. So it's useless to go to SC, it's been rendered useless as an organization. What does Serbia except to get out of UNSC with just Russia's help?
(AC, 14 February 2008 16:57)
What a farce this is! Russia blocked the normal proceedings of UNSC with the threat of a veto when Ahtisaari package was on the table, and now it wants to use the same body to get its way. Peaceful solution? The reason why Russia blocked the vote on Ahtisaari was exactly to incite conflict in the region, hoping that Albanians would start rioting and Kosova would become a second Palestine.
Let the UNSC vote on two parallel resolutions: One to implement Ahtisaari as proposed by the West and to recognize Kosova as independent and in UN and the second to prevent Kosova's independence as proposed by Russia. With the agreement that no veto will be used in both resolutions, only a majority vote. And let's see which one will win and which one will lose.
(Adrian Gashi, 14 February 2008 20:45)
Guys, tomorrow, Friday 15 February, 2008 is the Big Day. Kosova will be declared independent. Congratulations to all of us. This means that today's session of the SC of UN is completely usseles. (B92,I hope that this time you won't ignore my comment. You are not enough efficient, are you)
(belokapac, 14 February 2008 12:06)
It is the last time that Serbia has the chance to cry with "crocodile" tears.
It is ALL OVER.
Unfortunately Vuk Jeremic decided to spend some more money of serb taxes in order to come to the United Nations here in New York.
Vuk Jeremic seems to be a smart person, but unfortunately he is being dictated by Kostunica.
(Afrim Hoxha, 14 February 2008 14:51)
What a farce this is! Russia blocked the normal proceedings of UNSC with the threat of a veto when Ahtisaari package was on the table, and now it wants to use the same body to get its way. Peaceful solution? The reason why Russia blocked the vote on Ahtisaari was exactly to incite conflict in the region, hoping that Albanians would start rioting and Kosova would become a second Palestine.
Let the UNSC vote on two parallel resolutions: One to implement Ahtisaari as proposed by the West and to recognize Kosova as independent and in UN and the second to prevent Kosova's independence as proposed by Russia. With the agreement that no veto will be used in both resolutions, only a majority vote. And let's see which one will win and which one will lose.
(Adrian Gashi, 14 February 2008 20:45)
Russia can block SC resolutions, but it can't pass resolutions by itself. US could veto any resolutions just like Russia could. So it's useless to go to SC, it's been rendered useless as an organization. What does Serbia except to get out of UNSC with just Russia's help?
(AC, 14 February 2008 16:57)
i agree that albanians in kosovo should celebrate, it's a good way to ease tension. i remember in june 1999, milosevic was organizing celebrations because serbia defeated nato he said. it was all over his media. this kinda thing is done sometimes. what i would like to know is this: say on sunday, albanians declare independence. serbia rejects it, un doesnt even debate it. what will have changed for albanians on monday? economically it will be worse no doubt. serbs in north will reject it, so that the un-eu-nato controlled territory we know as kosovo today will even be shrinking.
i'm sure one hundred years of separatism with nothing to show for it, no unification with albania, no independence either, is frustrating and difficult. so, celebrate, that's better than burning churches from unesco's heritage list ;)
but i suggest when you actually have borders, and have an army that secures them, your judges in your courts, your police and seat at the un, you should celebrate independence. otherwise people will say you're not serious :)
but i like you all the same or even more, because i'm seldom serious myself so i identify with that attitude :)
remember, albanians, you believe that you were a constituent part of form. yugo. then, do not accept less than other parts, why are you worse than slovenia, croatia, monte, macedonia, serbia and even unfortunate bosnia?
demand to have your state borders, your un seat, your flag at east river, your army, the works.
do not fail me now ;)
and keep us posted on the investment boom. when status settles, investments follow, that's the rule. hm.
will kosovo's status have settled though, what do you think? or are we just starting in more ways than one... time will tell.
(smile, 14 February 2008 21:52)
International law remains and 1244 remains - illegal declaration followed by illegal recognition represents by those participating nations in NATO qualifies as an illegal occupation - now lets just leave it that this is no different in that respect then illegal occupation of any other UN recognised member state - can the UN turn a blind eye to that? Maybe the ones acting Illegally would like to think so but they need to realise they are thus in breah and are acting as violent occupiers as far as Serbian sovereignty is concerned - time will come when all diplomatic and legal channels have been persued and if the illegal occupiers remain then that does leave very little option bar one!
(Princip, UK, 14 February 2008 18:38)