EU, NATO to decide Kosovo status after UN fails

Earlier yesterday, the UK’s UN envoy, John Sawers, said statements by Serbian Premier Vojislav Kostunica and the Kosovar president demonstrated there was no possibility of overcoming the difficulties within the UN, and that the European Union would now assume responsibility for determining Kosovo’s status. The British official said the time has come to carry out the will of Kosovo’s predominantly Albanian population and recognize their independence on the basis of the Marti Ahtisaari plan. Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, has submitted a renewed draft resolution urging for Kosovo-Serbia talks to be continued to the UN Security Council, a Russian UN mission representative said. „Russia is calling on the Security Council to continue talks. We believe there is still a real chance for a compromise,” the source said. Churkin said the deployment of an EU mission in Kosovo without a mandate from the UN Security Council will be illegitimate. He also said Russia does not consider talks on the Kosovo problem at the UN Security Council are finished.

The Serb premier urged the UN Security Council on Wednesday to refrain from decisions that violate international law and continue talks between Belgrade and Pristina on the status of Kosovo. „At this crucial moment the Security Council should announce that negotiations be continued and demand that both parties commit themselves to finding a political compromise,” Vojislav Kostunica said. The Serb premier said the annexation of the Serbian province with a predominantly Albanian population posed a threat to international stability. (rian.ru)