The UN Security Council is divided over a unilateral declaration of independence by Serbia's breakaway province Kosovo.
Panama's UN Ambassador Ricardo Arias, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month, said that the council remained divided over Kosovo's declaration of independence.
Some members consider it "an illegal act in contravention of resolution 1244" while others consider it "a legitimate act," Arias said.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin urged the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to declare "null and void" the self-proclaimed independence by Kosovo's ethnic Albanians.
After attending an emergency session of the 15-member council on Kosovo, Churkin told reporters Sunday that there is no legal basis for any country to recognize the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.
He said the council agreed that resolution 1244 adopted in 1999 remains in force, as does the UN presence in Kosovo.
"Therefore, there can be no unilateral proclamation of independence," Churkin said, adding that this declaration should be "disregarded by the international community."
Churkin urged those countries who "might be tempted to contemplate recognition of" Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence to take into account "this very strong legal position."
However, the United States and some European nations have backed Kosovo's independence.
Some European nations and the United States pledged here Sunday that they are going to abide by their responsibilities to ensure stability and security in Kosovo.
Ambassador Johan Verbeke, permanent representative of Belgium to the United Nations, said that "we are determined to take up our own responsibilities, as states and through the EU and NATO, to secure stability and security in the region."
Verbeke was speaking on behalf of the European members of the Security Council, namely, Belgium, France, Italy and Britain, as well as Croatia, Germany and the United States, noting that members of the Security Council "have stressed the particular responsibility of the European Union."
He also regretted that the council could not agree on the way forward.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China expressed grave concern over Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Monday that "Kosovo's unilateral act could produce a series of results that will lead to a seriously negative influence on peace and stability in the Balkan region and on the realization of building a multiethnic society in Kosovo, which China is deeply concerned about."
In addition, the UN Security Council called on all parties to remain calm and avoid confrontation.
"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 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.
Churkin said Serbian President Boris Tadic is expected to attend the council meeting.
A UN spokesperson said the council has scheduled the meeting at 3:00 p.m. (2000 GMT).
Kosovo's parliament voted 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 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. |
About Us 
