Wednesday, March 12, 2008

DAR AL HARB-U.S./RUSSIA/KOSOVO: RUSSIA & THE U.S. AT ODDS OVER KOSOVO

No reversal of independence, say US and EU

The United States and Russia have again clashed in the United Nations Security Council over Kosovo 's recent independence.

The US is adamant independence move cannot be reversed, while Russia has demanded more talks to discuss the issue.

Kosovo's majority ethnic Albanians declared independence on 17 February with the support of western powers, despite opposition from Belgrade and Moscow.

“Any attempts which ignore the reality and what has happened will not have our support,” said US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad.
“What has happened in Kosovo cannot be annulled."

But Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said there was no final solution for Kosovo unless it was negotiated between Belgrade and Pristina and approved by the Security Council.

“We don’t accept that a new reality has been established," said Churkin. "It is a virtual reality which will not be recognised as international reality until we reach a unified stand."

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Pertinent Links:

1) No reversal of independence, say US and EU

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