RF worried over Pristina`s demand to oust UN Mission from Kosovo

NEW YORK, June 18 (Itar-Tass) - Russia is worried over the fact that
the Pristina authorities demand stopping the operation of the UN Mission
in Kosovo (UNMIK). This anxiety was expressed by Russian chief delegate to
the UN Vitaly Churkin, speeking on Wednesday at an open meeting of the UN
Security Council.
"We are worried over the fact that despite all signals from the UN
Security Council to Pristina on the need to respect Security Council
decisions, representatives of the Kosovo authorities (which is clearly
expressed in the report by the UN secretary-general) continued to demand
in their public statements that the UN Mission in Kosovo should stop its
activities over alleged outdated nature of Security Council resolution
1244 and absence of their obligations to implement it," he said. "We
regard such behaviour as inadmissible," the diplomat added.
He noted in this connection that Security Council resolution 1244
"fully remains in force, as before". "In compliance with the resolution,
the special representative of the secretary-general and the UN Mission in
Kosovo he heads should continue performing their vested functions,
including assistance in ensuring rights and security of national
minorities and achievement in the province of democratic standards, set by
the international community," Churkin emphasised.
In the Russian ambassador's opinion, "any independent steps (bypassing
the UN Security Council) on changing the essence or 'geography' of the
Mission's activities would unequivocally run counter to provisions of
resolution 1244 and the 'package' approach (approved by the Council in
November 2008 ) to re-configuration of the UNMIK".
The Russian chief delegate also noted that in compliance with this
approach, "all international presences in the province, including the EU
Mission in the sphere of supremacy of law, should operate in the
status-neutral key with observance of UN prerogatives and Security Council
resolution 1244".
"We believe it is necessary to make an objective and unbiased
examination at the International Court of the inquiry by the UN General
Assembly on conformity of the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's
independence to international law," Churkin said. He added that on April
16, Russia submitted to the court a written report, reflecting the Russian
principled position on this question.
"We are convinced of unavoidable preservation of the leading role of
the UN Security Council in pushing the Kosovo process, since it should
remain the guarantor of observance of international law, the UN Charter
and decisions of the Council itself," Churkin underlined.