Russia Supports Serbia's Territorial Integrity

Russian position that international
law must be respected in Kosovo case
produce visible results
Belgrade, Oct 7, 2006 - Director of the Serbian government’s Office of Media Relations Srdjan Djuric said today that results of the Russian position that international law must be respected in solving the status of Kosovo-Metohija are visible.
Speaking to Beta news agency, Djuric repeated the statement of Russian presidential aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky that recognition of Kosovo’s independence despite Serbia’s will create a very negative precedent in international relations. Djuric also said that confirmation of Serbia’s new Constitution would confirm international principles of inviability of Serbia’s territory. Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported that Yastrzhembsky said at a conference “Russia and Germany, Hopes and Misunderstandings” that Kosovo is a severe challenge to the international community and a very important acid test for the wisdom of the world community. Djuric said that there were ideas that UN Special Envoy for Kosovo-Metohija Marti Ahtisaari should come up with a plan for Kosovo during the UN General Assembly’s session saying that Kosovo is a unique case in which case international law needs to be severely violated to allow the province’s independence. The adoption of the new Constitution is an absolute democratic right of Serbian citizens to confirm with their sovereign will that borders cannot be changed in a sovereign state without its will, Djuric pointed out.