UN Security Council fails to break deadlock over KosovoFebruary 15, 2008 - 14:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN Security Council failed on Thursday to break a long-standing deadlock over Kosovo despite a last-ditch effort by Russia and Serbia to prevent the Serbian province from declaring independence.The 15-nation council met behind closed doors at the request of Serbia. However, only 5 permanent members supported Kosovo's independence, Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said. He also slammed Kosovo's independence as "a blatant breach of international law" and voiced concern about the risk of renewed interethnic violence in the province and the Balkans as a whole. The UN Security Council President, Panama's Ricardo Alberto Arias said Kosovo became a European problem, the UN news center reports. The Serbian government on Thursday denounced any unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence - expected within days - as "invalid and void". Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said his country will not tolerate existence of a "puppet state" on its territory. Belgrade's ally Moscow also warns against creation of a dangerous precedent in the international politics. 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 | 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. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |