Feb 18, 2008, 21:42 GMT
New York - Serbian President Boris Tadic on Monday branded Kosovo's independence illegal and told the UN Security Council that 'dozens' of other territories were waiting to follow Kosovo's act of secession, using violence if necessary.
Tadic appeared before the 15-nation council in New York to plead for UN action to reverse Kosovo's declaration of independence on Sunday.
Tadic was supported by Russia and China, while small nations on the council like South Africa and Vietnam warned of serious consequences and did not endorse or reject openly Kosovo's independence.
'Whoever may support Kosovo's independence must realize that this act legalizes the threat of violence as a means of creating new states and promoting one's own political agendas and interests,' Tadic said.
'I repeat, there are dozens of various Kosovos in the world and all of them lie in wait for Kosovo's act of secession to become a reality,' Tadic said. 'I warn you most seriously of the danger of the escalation of many of existing conflicts, the flaring up of frozen conflicts and the instigation of new ones.'
'Here in the UN Security Council, I say clearly and unequivocably: Serbia will never recognize the independence of Kosovo,' he said. 'We shall never renounce Kosovo and we shall not give up the struggle for our legitimate interests.'
'For the citizens of Serbia and its institutions, Kosovo will forever remain a part of Serbia.'
Tadic said, however, that Serbia wants to remain a European state and continue to work to remain one.
Kosovo's independence declaration has divided the European Union, which was unable to agree on a common position Monday. France, Germany, Italy and Britian all indicated they will recognize Kosovo.
The United States also formally recognized Kosovo, and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice called Kosovo a 'special case' that should not be seen as a precedent by other separatist groups.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin and Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya both said Kosovo's independence would trigger unrest in the Balkans.
Churkin reiterated Moscow's calls for the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to annul the declaration of independence. Wang said he was greatly concerned by the development, urging renewed negotiations for a mutual solution because the future of the Balkans belonged in Europe.
'China hopes that the EU will take into account not only the interests of Serbia and Kosovo, but also the concerns of other countries in the region,' Wang said.
Unlike Wang, Churkin attacked the EU for launching a rule-of-law mission to Kosovo, calling it illegal because it had not been authorized by the UN Security Council.
'The UN Security Council had not authorized the launching of this operation,' Churkin said.
But the European members on the council - Britain, Belgium and Italy - disagreed, saying that the rule-of-law mission was permitted by a UN resolution.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in opening the council meeting that the situation in Kosovo remained calm despite two minor incidents in Kosovo's northern region of Mitrovica.
Ban said UNMIK might face difficulties in performing its duties because of the changing situation, which would require him to readjust the mission's mandate.
'It is my intention to act in an effective, realistic and concrete manner,' Ban said. 'I might have to adjust to developments and changes on the ground.'
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