Russia Says NATO Violated UN Mandate In Kosovo Clashes
By Ria Novosti
NATO peacekeepers have “no right” to use force against ethnic Serbs in the north of Kosovo, Russia says.
Last month, 16 ethnic Serbs and four soldiers from the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force were hurt in clashes over the Jarinje border crossing with Serbia.
Serbia said NATO’s actions were “absolutely unacceptable.” The alliance insists its soldiers acted in self-defense.
Kosovo has been trying to take control of border crossings, but these efforts have been repelled by ethnic Serbs.
Serbia said EU-mediated talks with Kosovo could not resume until the situation was resolved.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said NATO overstepped its UN Security Council mandate.
“I must repeat again that the use of force to help implement the lawmaking of the so-called republic do not agree with the UN mandate and violated their neutral status,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
Kosovo, a landlocked region with a population of mainly ethnic Albanians, declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008.
