Russia objects to hasty definition of Kosovo status - Sliska

ITAR-TASS (RUSSIAN FEDERATION), 07.11.2006, 23.53

 

BELGRADE, November 7 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia objects to a hasty or imposed definition of the Kosovo status, State Duma First Deputy Speaker Lyubov Sliska said in Belgrade on Tuesday.

 

She leads a delegation of six State Duma representatives at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The visit is being paid by the invitation of the leader of the Serbian parliamentary delegation at the PACE.

 

"Russia is positive that no one has the right to breach international legal principles in the definition of the Kosovo status," Sliska said at a meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.

 

She opposed Western politicians, who think that the Kosovo status must be legalized before the end of this year, and said, "the search for a solution to this problem goes on, and there must be no deadlines."

 

"The referendum, at which the people of Serbia supported a new constitution that describes Kosovo as a part of the national territory, must be taken into consideration while making a decision on Kosovo," Sliska said.

 

Kostunica thanked Russia for "firm adherence to the international legal principles in the definition of the Kosovo status."

 

The delegation also met with Serbian Parliament Speaker Pregrag Markovic. "Russia was and will be a reliable partner to Serbia," Sliska said at the meeting. "There are huge possibilities in the development of bilateral cooperation, in particularly, in the economy."

 

She suggested forming "a Russian-Serbian parliamentary forum in 2007, so that it promotes the development of the bilateral relations."

 

Markovic lauded parliamentary contacts between Serbia and Russia.

 

The visit will be over on November 9.