Vitaly Churkin (1952- ), Russian UN Ambassador
Moscow shall not agree to the reconfiguration of the UN Mission to Kosovo without UN Security Council approval. UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin stated this in an address to a UN Security Council meeting devoted to a Kosovo settlement on Friday. Another report by the UN Secretary-General on the UN Mission to Kosovo provisional administration was presented to the meeting. The 26-page report is very pessimistic. Ban Ki-moon insists that the UN mission has failed to fulfil its task. Pristina has practically usurped the powers of the UN mission. Consequently, Ban Ki-moon concludes that there is a need for reorganising the mission by strengthening the role of the European Union.
Russia understands fully the EU’s determination to play an influential role in Kosovo. However, this has to be done on the basis of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, rather than unilaterally, as is done now. Mr Churkin is convinced that any move that is not approved by the Security Council violates the UN Charter. Mr Churkin said that the UN Secretary General has clearly exceeded his authority since this concerns the fulfilment of a fundamental decision by the Security Council, Resolution 1244. A comparison of the texts of Resolution 1244 and the report by the Secretary-General shows with utter clarity that his formulations in several cases differ from those of the resolution, Mr Churkin said.
A drive for legalising a structure that will actualise the so-called Ahtisaari plan can be seen behind the destruction of the present format of international presence. The plan failed to win the approval of the UN Security Council. If the UN Mission to Kosovo leaves the Serbian enclaves in the south of the province under the pretext of reconfiguration, an escalation of tension in the region cannot be avoided. Speaking to the UN Security Council meeting, Mr Churkin urged the UN Secretary-General to hold consultations with all parties and the members of the international community that are interested in the issue. At the same time, the Secretary-General should use the readiness of the Serbian leaders for a dialogue with the United Nations to find a formulation of the reconfiguration of the mission acceptable to Belgrade. The UN Security Council could approve this. Addressing the meeting, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić confirmed his readiness for such a dialogue.
Clearly, real progress in contacts between the UN and Serbia on Kosovo, including reconfiguration of the mission, would significantly defuse the situation and at the same time remain true to Resolution 1244. A long-term solution to the issue can be achieved only by negotiations on the basis of an agreement by all sides to honour international law and the prerogatives of the United Nations. To this end, the Russian proposal was supported by China, Libya, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Africa.
26 July 2008
Konstantin Garibov
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=rus&q=78188&cid=19&p=26.07.2008 (in Russian)
