LOC23:45
20:45 GMT
By Yassin Rawashdeh
SARAJEVO, July 15 (KUNA) -- A modified draft resolution is being circulated
in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and includes concessions for the Russian
demands concerning the independence of kosovo, a ranking European diplomat
said Sunday.
The diplomat, a member in ongoing multi-party negotiations over the
independence of the province, told KUNA the draft resolution gave 120 extra
days for more negotiations and consultations between parties concerned, and
then return to the UNSC to give the green-light for independence but Kosovo
would remain under international supervision.
The diplomat, requesting anonymity, ruled out a Russian rejection to the
draft resolution because it did not trigger automatic independence once the
120-day period expired.
Russia is refusing all US and European Union (EU) proposals for the Kosovo
independence as a retaliation for the "Western provocations" regarding the
deployment of the missile shield system in Eastern Europe, said the diplomat.
At first Russia approved the UN Special envoy Martti Ahtisaari's
independence plan, noted the diplomat, but the timing of decision of the US
and Nato to deploy the missle shield system "took Moscow by surprise and
angered it because it did not expect that Washington will dare to bring anew
the missile armament in Europe."
Russia's justifications to reject the Kosovo independence plan are the not
the main reasons but it was due to recent setback in relations with US, he
said.
However, after summit talks between US and Russian Presidents, George Bush
and Vladimir Putin respectively, Moscow proposed that concessions are made.
The diplomat said Russia is ready to sacrifice vis-a-vis Kosovo and in
return the US abondon its missile shield program. (end)
yr.bs
KUNA 152345 Jul 07NNNN