UNSC remains divided over future status of Kosovo

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Source: CCTV.com | 07-10-2007 09:13

Ethnic Albanians march in the capital Pristina 30 June to protest against a UN plan on the future status of Kosovo and demanding self-determination.(AFP/File/Ermal Meta)

In New York The UN Security Council has met for consultations on Kosovo. But, Monday's gathering failed to bridge differences over the future status of the Serbian province.

Following the meeting, Chinese UN Ambassador Wang Guangya says council members remained divided over Kosovo's future.

Wang Guangya said, "It seems that the differences still remain and so council members are still divided and so I believe that we still need more time. The important thing is that council members in their comments that they made, are talking about the possibilities of resuming the negotiations."

The United States and its European allies have drafted a resolution to give Kosovo and Serbia four more months for further negotiations. If no agreement is reached, Kosovo would be granted independence under international supervision.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad says a decision is needed soon. He says this week is a "decisive period" for the council.

Zalmay Khalilzad said, "It's our view that we need to make a decision on this relatively soon, that one way or the other there will be a change in status in Kosovo towards independence. And we will work with our colleagues to get a resolution presented this week."

Serbia is vehemently opposed to any plan that would lead to independence. Russia is calling for more talks, saying that no plan is acceptable without the consent of Serbia.

Sergei Lavrov, Russian FM, said, "Our position on Kosovo is well-known. It is based on international law, and it is not imposed by some speculative artificial schemes. Any solution on Kosovo is only possible on the basis of agreement by both sides involved. Any other decision cannot make it through the Security Council."

The Serbian province of Kosovo has been administered by the UN and NATO since the NATO-led air war there in 1999. The province's ethnic Albanian majority demands independence, but minority Serbs and Serbia want Belgrade to retain some control.

Editor:Du Xiaodan