The UN Security Council on Sunday called on all parties to remain calm and avoid confrontation after Kosovo unilaterally declared independence earlier in the day.
Panama's UN Ambassador Ricardo Arias, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month, made the remarks to the press after the 15-member council held an emergency session to discuss the issue of Kosovo's independence.
"All members manifested their concern for the peace and security of the region," Arias said. "There was a call to all parties again to remain calm and try to avoid any direct confrontation."
Council members underlined the fact that "all parties have declared the intention not to use force and their intention to develop multiethnic societies," he said.
Arias acknowledged that the council remained divided over Kosovo's declaration of independence, with some members considering it "an illegal act in contravention of resolution 1244" and some others considering it "a legitimate act."
Arias confirmed that the council will continue its debate on the issue in an open session Monday afternoon which will be attended by a Serbian representative.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Serbian President Boris Tadic is expected to attend the council meeting.
Meanwhile, a UN spokesperson said the council has scheduled the meeting at 3:00 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Monday.
Kosovo's parliament voted on Sunday to adopt a declaration of independence at an extraordinary session on the province's independence from Serbia.
Kosovo now is "an independent, sovereign and democratic state," Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi announced after lawmakers voted 109-0 through a show of hands to approve the declaration.
But Serbian President Boris Tadic said that Serbia will never recognize the independence of Kosovo.
He urged international organizations "to immediately annul this act, which violates the basic principles of international law."
Kosovo was a southern autonomous province within Serbia before the breakup of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Among its population of 2 million, over 90 percent are ethnic Albanians and Serbs make up about 7 percent.
Kosovo has been under UN administration since mid-1999, after NATO air-strikes drove out Serbian forces from the province. |
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