Until the bitter end

PACE did not support Kosovo's independence

Yesterday, deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on Kosovo , rejecting demands to include in it a clause recognizing the independence of the Serbian region. In particular, the PACE rapporteur on the status of Kosovo, the British Lord Russell-Johnston, spoke out in support of independence. He called the Kosovo Albanians' demands "justified" and declared Russia's position that "Kosovo's independence would disrupt the order of things in the world" "far-fetched." “There is no doubt that after the war there is a clear desire for independence among the Kosovar Albanians, and it is difficult to resist,” says Lord.

This approach was opposed by the majority of participants in the debate, led by the head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Konstantin Kosachev. He warned against any solution to the problem of Kosovo’s status bypassing the UN Security Council and called for “respect for international law and the people of Serbia.” He was fully supported by the head of the Serbian delegation, Milos Aligrudic, who recalled that Belgrade “recognizes only the UN Security Council as an institution competent to discuss the issue of Kosovo.” Therefore, the proposals of the British rapporteur, “except for an unpleasant tone,” do not carry any practical consequences, the Serbian representative is sure.

The final text of the resolution on Kosovo did not include any mention of the region’s status. At the same time, PACE called on the parties to the conflict “to continue negotiations on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and reach a compromise solution.” Konstantin Kosachev called this point and the entire resolution “a victory for Serbia and Russia.”

But it is unlikely that the Albanian separatists in Kosovo will listen to PACE recommendations. Yesterday, the head of the regional government, Hashim Thaci, announced that the authorities in Pristina had agreed with the United States and the European Union on the date for declaring Kosovo's independence and it would be announced “in the coming days.” “It will be a good surprise,” Mr. Thaci promised. Tomorrow the Kosovo Prime Minister is due to meet with the leaders of the European Union in Brussels. Obviously, after these meetings the Kosovo cards will be revealed.

Petr ISKENDEROV