“Moscow will be responsible”

“Moscow will be responsible”

“Moscow must realize it will be held responsible for such an outcome,” Holbrooke told the newspaper.

“Moscow is encouraging Belgrade to oppose the inevitable, the birth of a new state. Moscow’s position puts wind in the sales of the radical factions in Serbia. Putin made it clear on several occasions Russia could use its veto powers, and for this reason precisely it needs to be said clearly that this veto will produce violence and perhaps a war in Kosovo,” Holbrooke said.

“I have never met a single Russian diplomat who really cared about the Balkans. Serbs ought to think about when was the last time Russia stood by them, other than in 1914. It is true there are fears Kosovo’s independence might create a dangerous precedent in the international law, but those fears are without foundation. I ask you to read the UN resolution 1244 carefully. It states, very clearly, the UN has the mandate to determine Kosovo’s future status. That is precisely what the UN has been doing,” Holbrooke concluded.

“Kosovo is a major test for Russia”

RIA Novosti Expert Council member Lev Dzugayev wrote in an op-ed Richard Holbrooke’s recent statements “could be ignored if not for the author, who will be one of the candidates to the Secretary of State's position in the event of a Democratic victory.”

“As we can see, the question has already been resolved without the Serbs. After all that was said about the initiators of events in former Yugoslavia, such statements can only be described as cynical,” Dzugayev writes, referring to Holbrooke’s warnings the U.S. and some Muslim countries may opt to unilaterally recognize Kosovo’s independence, as well as those of another war in the Balkans.

“Pursuing national interests is commendable but should be done with caution,” Dzugayev writes, adding, “We will not enhance security and stability if we support national self-determination or follow the principle of territorial integrity proceeding from our own interests.”

“Mr. Holbrooke claims that ‘Kosovo is a unique case and sets no precedent for separatist movements elsewhere.’ This idea is beyond criticism. Regardless of anything, the so-called frozen conflicts on post-Soviet territory will obviously follow in Kosovo's wake,” Dzugayev notes, concluding that “Russia has much to think about, and Kosovo is indeed a major test for it.”