Russia to veto UN resolution on Kosovo unilateral independenceDecember 21, 2007 - 13:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's Foreign Minister said the country would veto a United Nations resolution granting independence to Serbia's Albanian-dominated breakaway province of Kosovo. "If a decision to approve a unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo is made, the veto will undoubtedly be applied," Sergei Lavrov said. "It is not that Russia wants to create obstacles or feel important. A veto is an important part of international law, which has helped avoid major global conflicts since World War II," he said. "The responsibility of the UN Secretary General and UN mission in Kosovo is to create conditions for a political resolution." Lavrov also said that if the European Union recognizes Kosovo's independence "ignoring existing UN legal mechanisms," and "divide Serbia, tearing out Kosovo and depriving ethnic Serbs of their right to express their opinions," it will be putting itself outside the international legal framework. The UN Security Council failed on Wednesday to bridge divisions over the future of Kosovo. The province's drive for independence has been backed by the West and firmly opposed by Serbia and its ally Russia, which has a veto on the Security Council as a permanent member. Western nations also said the EU and NATO should take over police duties in Kosovo from the United Nations, which administered the region since NATO's 1999 bombing campaign that ended a conflict between Serb forces and ethnic Albanian separatists. Some other Security Council members, including Cyprus and Greece, have also voiced opposition to a unilateral declaration of sovereignty by Kosovo, fearing this could set a precedent for other separatist regions, RIA Novosti reports. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. |