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Russia Still Considers Vetoing UN Kosovo Resolution
The United States and EU nations circulated a draft UN resolution on Kosovo late last week. Russia is dissatisfied with at least two articles of the document which puts the breakaway province of Serbian on the road towards independence. Moscow has made clear that it may veto the draft.
The draft resolution, circulated last week by the United States and EU countries, endorses independence plan drawn up by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari. Under the plan, the Serbian province would be independent under European Union supervision.
Russia’s UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, has circulated elements for a rival Security Council resolution calling for further talks between officials in Serbia and Kosovo and stepped-up efforts to meet UN standards.
The U.S.-EU plan has enough supporters in the Security Council to adopt the resolution unless Russia casts a veto, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalizad said Thursday.
But Russia’s final decision is not clear year. Mr. Churkin alluded to the possibility of Russia’s veto on the U.S.-backed resolution, but made no firm statement, which gave some hope to those seeking Kosovo’s independence.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said that the resolution which would give Kosovo independence can be adopted this month. He added that it would include Russia’s proposal to protect minorities and ensure that Serbs who were forced to flee their homes can return to Kosovo. A source in the U.S. Embassy to the UN noted in an interview with Kommersant that Russia still says “may be”, but has not firmly stated that it would use a veto.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 14, 2007
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