Independence will 'lead to new rifts'

Matheos Messakh ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 02/21/2008 12:09 PM  |  World

The international recognition of Kovoso's declaration of independence would be a breach of international law, says the Russian ambassador to Indonesia.

Ambassador Alexander A. Ivanov called the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo's ethnic Albanians a "blatant breach" of norms and principles of international laws, including the Charter of the UN and the Security Council Resolution 1244 on the situation relating to Kosovo.

Ivanov, who called the declaration an "illegal act", said it undermined the fundamentals of international relationships and could lead to new conflict in the Balkans.

He said the declaration was incompatible with provisions of the Helsinki Final Act, which discusses sovereignty, territorial integrity, internal affairs and self-determination. It was signed by 35 countries in 1975.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) at the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel in central Jakarta on Wednesday, Ivanov said an independent Kosovo would be a dangerous precedent.

"We don't agree with this independence because it will produce a precedent for similar cases, including the territory of the former Soviet Union. Indonesia and many countries also have similar problems," said Ivanov.

Ivanov said the Indonesian media had stressed only the precedent set by Kosovo's independence for other separatist movements in the world, but never mentioned the security threat posed by the move.

Ivanov said the present members of the UN Security Council, including Indonesia, were directly responsible for preserving the recent principles of international law and the UN Charter.

"Let us not forget our common responsibility," he added.

The ambassador said Kosovo's independence posed a threat to peace and security in the Balkans.

"There will be ... consequences if Kosovo's independence is internationally recognized. A large number of ethnic Albanians live in Macedonia, Bulgaria and many European countries now, even in Germany. Actually, the slogan of Kosovo's leaders is 'Greater Albania'.

"It will lead to new ethnic conflicts, new local wars and chaos in European countries. It is very strange that our European colleagues who recognized the independence don't understand this."

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