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