The United Nations Security Council should take a final decision on the status of Kosovo based on a compromise between Serbia and Kosovo, according to Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister.
Aleksandr Yakovenko said Russia had always stood for a “a balanced and firm settlement” of the Kosovo problem. “That's why we could not support the proposal made in the spring by UN special Martti Ahtisaari,” Yakovenko said. The Deputy FM went on to say that the Ahtisaari plan went against international standards. “It suggested the UN Security Council should take a decision on the division of a sovereign state which is against basic norms of international law, the UN Charter and the UN Security Council resolution 1244,” he said. The Foreign Ministry says the crucial thing for this year is that no unilateral decision on Kosovo is made. “The UN Security Council should take a final decision based on a compromise between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians,” Yakovenko added. The issue is likely to top the UN agenda until it takes a decision. Other mediators – the U.S. and some EU countries – believe the Serbian breakaway province should be given full independence.