Serbia in UN bid to ward off Kosovo's secession

SERBIA AND Kosovo are engaged in a diplomatic battle over the status of the fledgling latter country, which is seeking wider recognition of its independence even as Belgrade urges the United Nations to condemn its 2008 secession.

Serbia has submitted a draft resolution to the UN, for consideration by its General Assembly in September, which states that “unilateral secession cannot be an acceptable way of resolving territorial issues” and “calls on all the parties involved to find a mutually accepted solution . . . through peaceful dialogue in the interest of peace, security and co-operation in the region”.

Belgrade drew up the resolution after the UN’s highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ruled this month that Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia was not illegal.

Serbia’s leaders say the decision will embolden separatist groups around the world, while supporters of Kosovo’s independence – which has been recognised by 69 states, including 22 of the European Union’s 27 members – say Kosovo is a special case that does not set a legal precedent.

Even though Serbia does not explicitly request further talks on Kosovo’s status in its resolution, the government of the mostly ethnic-Albanian state says Belgrade is refusing to accept the ICJ’s advisory verdict and is determined to undermine Kosovo’s sovereignty, just as it seeks to persuade more countries to recognise its sovereignty in a push for UN membership.

Kosovo’s foreign minister, Skender Hyseni, said “any attempt to present Kosovo as a precedent is in fact an effort to undermine Kosovo’s statehood, an attempt to undermine Kosovo’s progress internationally . . . It’s not going to work.”

He said dozens of countries were poised to recognise his country’s sovereignty in the coming months, emboldened by the ICJ ruling as well as the support of most of the EU and the US and Japan.

China, Russia and EU members Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus are among those who have withheld recognition, and Moscow has vowed to use its UN Security Council veto to block Kosovo’s membership of the organisation.

“Serbia has no intention, or interest, to get into conflict with the international community, but, like any other country, it has lines it cannot cross,” said Serb president Boris Tadic.

He said the UN resolution was “not fanning the flames, but contributing to a peaceful and sober solution through dialogue, in which each side will gain something and lose something”.