Russian Ambassador: Moscow will only support the Serbian decision on Kosovo
Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Bocan-Kharchenko said that Moscow will only recognize a decision on Kosovo that is approved by Belgrade.
Serbian media reported this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The Russian ambassador spoke out to explain Russia's position on the Kosovo issue in connection with the recent emergence of free interpretations of this position, primarily in the Western and Balkan media.
“One is left wondering what the purpose of these attempts is to distort and pervert the content of the Russian approach,” said Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko. “Russia’s position on resolving the Kosovo problem is extremely clear... The only basis for a solution should remain UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which sets out the basic principles for the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Kosovo.”
Let us recall that the UN Security Council resolution, adopted against the backdrop of NATO aggression in June 1999, recognized the sovereignty of Yugoslavia over Kosovo (Serbia is officially considered the successor of Yugoslavia - ed.), while calling for autonomy and self-government of the region, ordering the withdrawal of troops and forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and also the disarmament of all Albanian combat forces, the return of refugees.
Most of these provisions were grossly violated after the withdrawal of the Yugoslav security forces from Kosovo: Belgrade’s sovereignty over the region was lost, instead of autonomy, with the direct patronage of the United States, a quasi-state entity was created, the armed formations of the Albanian separatists were transformed initially into the Security Forces, and from the end of last year into “ army" of Kosovo.
“Russia is committed to achieving a sustainable and mutually acceptable compromise solution between Belgrade and Pristina on the basis of international law and the current UN Security Council Resolution 1244,” noted the Russian ambassador. – Russia will only agree with a decision that will be acceptable to Serbia. For Russia's direct participation in negotiations on the Kosovo issue, a corresponding invitation from Belgrade is necessary. I would like to emphasize once again that such negotiations must be conducted within the framework of international law, in this case, UN Security Council Resolution 1244.”
At the same time, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko noted that the solution to the Kosovo problem must comply with international law and, therefore, be approved by the UN Security Council.
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