Kosovo may be granted independence without UN resolutionJuly 18, 2007 - 18:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Seeking to raise pressure on Russia, the European Union said on Thursday it could withdraw the issue of Kosovo's final status from the UN Security Council if Moscow does not accept a resolution soon.EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana made the comment after Russia rejected a third draft UN resolution on the province on Monday, a watered-down text calling for more Serb-Albanian talks which Moscow said was still "permeated with the concept of the independence of Kosovo." Ethnic Albanian leaders in the breakaway Serbian province said the Council had failed on Kosovo and urged the West to offer an alternative route to independence from Serbia. Solana said a further 120-day period of shuttle diplomacy between Belgrade and Pristina would be conducted instead under the authority of the major power Contact Group, where Moscow has a seat but not a veto. After that period, the final status of Kosovo would be fixed. "We hope that will be decided in the context of a United Nations resolution," Solana said, implying the West might seek another source of legitimacy if Russia was still stonewalling. Asked whether UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari would remain as mediator, he said: "I cannot answer that formally now but I think it will probably be under the aegis of the Contact Group." The informal group, created in the mid-1990s to oversee Balkan diplomacy, comprises the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Russia. Solana said there was still a short period left to push for a UN resolution. He spoke after meeting Ahtisaari, whose peace plan called for Kosovo's independence under EU supervision, Reuters 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 | Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. |