29 April 2004 09:50
Russia proposes restructuring of Kfor to prevent fresh violence in Kosovo
Beijing, 29 April: Given present developments in Kosovo, there could be a fresh flare-up of ethnic violence there.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Razov expressed this view in an interview with an ITAR-TASS correspondent after
consultations with Chinese colleagues on the situation in Europe.
"The upsurge of ethnically motivated violence which occurred one month ago in Kosovo is a matter which deserves
further joint, in-depth analysis and study," the high-ranking diplomat feels. "These events cast doubt on the
correctness and adequacy of the policies which the international community has pursued in this region for the last five
years."
Razov believes resolution No 1244 of the UN Security Council, which aims at creating a polyethnic, multiconfessional
entity out of the province, and the mandate granted by NATO to Kfor troops in Kosovo have not been implemented properly.
Precisely this has been a factor in encouraging this upsurge of violence, he said.
Russia, Razov said, is proposing "certain measures of an operational nature". One of the proposals is that
"some thought should be given to a restructuring of Kfor", since developments have shown that these forces
"are not terribly well prepared for dealing with socioethnic conflicts of this kind". "Thought should
also be given to reinforcing the antiterrorist, policing and professional elements which are geared to tackling such
situations," Razov said.
"According to all the information which we possess, a repetition of these events is absolutely not to be ruled
out," the diplomat warned.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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