RIA Novosti
Moscow, Feb 20 (RIA Novosti) Russia Wednesday said its proposals on Kosovo’s status submitted to the UN Security Council earlier still remains in force. “Our initiative on the joint development of a ‘road map’, which would take into account the interests of both sides and priorities of key international mediators in the settlement of the Kosovo issue remains in force,” Mikhail Kamynin, a foreign ministry spokesman, said in a statement.

Russia also urges UN Security Council to assume a leading role in the search for a compromise over Kosovo’s status, the Russian diplomat said.

He said the statement on the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence, adopted by the European Union (EU) Council Feb 18, was “a set of mutually exclusive theses”.

“By proposing that each EU country adopt its own position towards the Kosovo issue, the EU Council has practically launched a ‘chain reaction’ for illegally recognizing its independence,” Kamynin said.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence Feb 17. The US, Australia, and several leading European countries, including France, Italy and Germany, have so far recognized it, while Russia, China and Spain have condemned the move and refused to recognise the breakaway Serbian province.

Last Saturday, the EU gave its final approval for sending a 1,800-strong civilian and police mission to Kosovo (EULEX) to replace the current UN mission (UNMIK).

Kamynin said the deployment of a EU mission in Kosovo has no legal basis because the issue must be resolved within the framework of the UN.

“Preparations for sending an EU mission are in circumvention of the UN Security Council,” the spokesman said.

He added that by following a unilateral scenario to resolve the Kosovo issue, the EU acted to the detriment of stability in the Balkans and fuelled separatism worldwide.
RIA Novosti