Russia: Strategy for north violates 1244

Official Moscow believes that the so-called strategy for northern Kosovo violates the Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council. It also generates tensions in the province, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko stated on Friday. Russia: Strategy for north violates 1244 “We believe that, under the existing circumstances, we should effectively prevent any attempt to implement decisions that may harm Kosovo,” Nesterenko said. “By this I refer to the so-called strategy for the northern Kosovo, which violates UN SC Resolution 1244 and generates tensions in the province.” The Russian official also said that Moscow insists on the UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, to fulfill its obligations in representing Kosovo in regional and international institutions. “There must be no changes in this respect,” Nesterenko underlined at a regular briefing at the Russian Foreign Ministry. “We believe that the reduction of UNMIK staff is unacceptable as this would undoubtedly limit the body's capacities in implementing the authorizations granted by the UN Security Council,” Nesterenko also said. According to him, Russia is confident that no one has the right to prevent UNMIK from fulfilling its tasks, including those referring to enforcement of democratic standards established by the international community. Strategy neutral The European Union will take a neutral position on the International Civilian Office (ICO) strategy to bring northern, Serb areas of Kosovo under control of the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina, says an Albanian language daily. Koha Ditore writes that, due to the refusal of five EU members to recognize Kosovo, “it is impossible for Brussels to support the strategy”. “Attempts to change the position of these five countries could strengthen the differences and jeopardize the strategy itself,” writes the newspaper. Meanwhile, it was reported that Pieter Feith, who holds two international positions in Kosovo – that of ICO chief, and EU's special representative – and EU mission in the province, EULEX, chief Yves de Kermabon, would visit the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday. This was reported by the media in Pristina, that quoted their NATO diplomatic sources. According to this, they would take part in an informal meeting with the NATO Council and will focus on cooperation between the EU and NATO in the field, and the situation in the north of Kosovo. The visit comes after the meeting of the NATO military leadership, who discussed Kosovo. At a two-day meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, chiefs of general staff of the NATO member states and countries that have their troops in KFOR had evaluated as successful the transformation of KFOR into a mission of conflict prevention in Kosovo. The KFOR transition into a conflict prevention mission was evaluated as successful, it was said in a statement released after the meeting. “We informed the states about the present development of the project for the Security Force of Kosovo and funds for the force,” the statement also said.

Russia: Strategy for north violates 1244

“We believe that, under the existing circumstances, we should effectively prevent any attempt to implement decisions that may harm Kosovo,” Nesterenko said. “By this I refer to the so-called strategy for the northern Kosovo, which violates UN SC Resolution 1244 and generates tensions in the province.”

The Russian official also said that Moscow insists on the UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, to fulfill its obligations in representing Kosovo in regional and international institutions.

“There must be no changes in this respect,” Nesterenko underlined at a regular briefing at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“We believe that the reduction of UNMIK staff is unacceptable as this would undoubtedly limit the body's capacities in implementing the authorizations granted by the UN Security Council,” Nesterenko also said.

According to him, Russia is confident that no one has the right to prevent UNMIK from fulfilling its tasks, including those referring to enforcement of democratic standards established by the international community.

Strategy neutral

The European Union will take a neutral position on the International Civilian Office (ICO) strategy to bring northern, Serb areas of Kosovo under control of the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština, says an Albanian language daily.

Koha Ditore writes that, due to the refusal of five EU members to recognize Kosovo, “it is impossible for Brussels to support the strategy”.

“Attempts to change the position of these five countries could strengthen the differences and jeopardize the strategy itself,” writes the newspaper.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Pieter Feith, who holds two international positions in Kosovo – that of ICO chief, and EU's special representative – and EU mission in the province, EULEX, chief Yves de Kermabon, would visit the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday.

This was reported by the media in Priština, that quoted their NATO diplomatic sources.

According to this, they would take part in an informal meeting with the NATO Council and will focus on cooperation between the EU and NATO in the field, and the situation in the north of Kosovo.

The visit comes after the meeting of the NATO military leadership, who discussed Kosovo.

At a two-day meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, chiefs of general staff of the NATO member states and countries that have their troops in KFOR had evaluated as successful the transformation of KFOR into a mission of conflict prevention in Kosovo.

The KFOR transition into a conflict prevention mission was evaluated as successful, it was said in a statement released after the meeting. “We informed the states about the present development of the project for the Security Force of Kosovo and funds for the force,” the statement also said.