Lavrov: Saying No Alternative for Kosovo Is Unproductive
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said statements allowing for no alternative to the independence of Kosovo were unproductive. "We must not pressure any of the sides by claiming there is no alternative," Lavrov said during his official visit to Slovenia on Wednesday. He added that a solution must be acceptable for Belgrade and Pristina.
Asked how Slovenia could contribute to solving the Kosovo issue during its EU presidency, Lavrov said that "those who want to help, can do so only by providing the best possible conditions for negotiations".
Speaking at a joint press conference with his host, Slovenian FM Dimitrij Rupel, Lavrov said the Kosovo troika consisting of the EU, Russia and US has drawn up a good basis for the resolving of the issue, which could be reached through talks. He believes this process should not be burdened with any kind of deadlines.
Lavrov noted that Russia was "already seeing in Europe the fear of the consequences" if Kosovo was to become independent, as this could bring problems to the region, especially in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia.
"We want to maintain dialogue with all sides," Lavrov said, while adding that the issue would most certainly not be resolved before Slovenia's EU presidency.
Rupel meanwhile rejected speculations that Slovenia would offer Serbia a quicker EU accession process in case it recognised the independence of Kosovo. "These are two separate problems, however Slovenia is indeed striving to speed up Serbia's progress towards the EU," Rupel explained.
"We wish that the problem of the status of Kosovo be solved, but also that the unity of the EU be preserved in the process - Slovenia will make an effort to preserve this unity," Rupel stressed.
Responding to a journalist's question on Iran's nuclear programme, Lavrov meanwhile said that, much like with Kosovo, any threats that highlight the inevitability of sanctions were unproductive.
He stressed that decisions on Iran would be "adopted unanimously", that is with the consent of Russia.
Rupel and Lavrov also discussed other topics, including relations between Russia and the EU. Both sides expect the EU-Russia summit scheduled for June 2008 in Khany-Mansiysk, Russia, to bring solutions to a number of issues, especially on economic matters.
Economy was also in the centre of talks on bilateral cooperation between Slovenia and Russia, with the pair assessing it was strong, according to the two ministers. Rupel said trade would soon reach EUR 2bn, whereas Lavrov said the two countries were on track to realising the goal set last year in Moscow by Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Russian President Vladimir Putin, namely to double trade by 2009.
According to Rupel, this will also be made possible through the agreement on Russia's repayment of the US$ 129m clearing debt to Slovenia, which was signed in Moscow on Tuesday. "We are glad that this chapter is behind us and it is in fact a chapter that will provide a new momentum in our future relations," Rupel believes.
The pair also touched on cooperation in culture, above all the activities of the Forum of Slavic Cultures, a Ljubljana-based outfit, which has since 2004 been propagating the preservation and development of cultural values, traditions and commodities that bring together Slavic-speaking nations.
Lavrov thanked Slovenia for the promotion of the Russian language and for the care for the graves of Russian soldiers buried in Slovenia.
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