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Russia Says U.N. Sec-Gen Overstepped Authority
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has overstepped his authority by sanctioning the reorganization of the U.N. mission in Kosovo and transfer of a portion of its functions to the EU, Echo of Moscow reported with reference to Russia’s envoy to U.N. Vitaly Churkin.
First of all, the report of the U.N. secretary-general on the issue was drafted without any support of the U.N. Security Council. What’s more, representatives of the EU mission don’t take it into account, they aren’t governed by that report, doing whatever they want, questioning and rejecting the U.N. resolution 1244 and the fact that the U.N. still retains political control over Kosovo, Russia’s diplomat said.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry specified earlier that any steps on reorganizing the U.N. mission in Kosovo require the respective sanction of the Security Council and agreement of both parties.
Serbia’s breakaway province Kosovo declared independence February 17, 2008. It has been recognized by 40 states, including the United States, Great Britain, France and Germany. The preparation for transferring court and police functions from the U.N. to the EU mission was set into motion that time.
The plans were to deploy the police mission of EU there by June 15, 2008, i.e. by the day when the Kosovo constitution was to take effect. But some members of the Security Council, including Russia, stepped in to oppose that move, saying the transfer of administrative function to the EU will have no legal force, as the Security Council hasn’t spoken out on the issue.
www.kommersant.com
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