Russian Ambassador: Final Status of Kosovo After West-Russia Conflict

Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC/MO)

Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan Kharchenko said on Feb. 9 that Kosovo and Metohija's final status would be defined "in different geopolitical conditions," after the end of the "conflict with the West in Ukrainian territory" which "Russia will definitely win."

Botsan Kharchenko told BETA in an interview that he understood that the Franco-German proposal for solving the question of Kosovo was unacceptable to Serbia, because it envisaged Serbia not opposing Kosovo becoming a member of all international organizations.

"Unlike U.N. resolution 1244, the Franco-German plan is not a basis for a long-term solution for the question of Kosovo and Metohija. This plan, like all of the plans before it, envisages unilateral concessions on Belgrade's part, above all allowing Kosovo to become a member of all international institutions and the U.N. The Franco-German plan essentially represents the international recognition of Kosovo. The West is openly insisting that Belgrade must acknowledge Kosovo's independence," Botsan Kharchenko said.

Asked to comment on Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's stance that he would participate in the process of implementing the Franco-German proposal, Botsan Kharchenko said that he understood that Belgrade "is only ready" to continue talks on the basis of this proposal. "I think that for the Serbian president only some points of the plan are acceptable for discussion and implementation. Whatever the case the points that envisage international recognition are not acceptable to Serbia. For the West the most important point is the one that envisages Kosovo's membership in international institutions," the ambassador said.