China says dialogue "best way" to solve Kosovo issue

Dialogue between concerned parties under the UN Security Council resolutions is the best way to solve the Kosovo issue, a Chinese envoy said at United Nations Thursday.

Wang Min, deputy head of the Chinese mission to the UN, told the General Assembly that the Kosovo issue, rather complicated and sensitive, concerns the peace and security of the Balkan region and the whole Europe.

"China has always believed that the best way to the Kosovo issue should be the concerned parties seeking mutually acceptable solutions under the framework of related UN Security Council resolutions," Wang said.

He said China noticed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 22 on the legality of the independence declaration by Kosovo, and that there are different viewpoints. China has advanced that it is a fundamental principle of international law to respect the state sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

"The sovereignty and territorial integrity of a UN member state should be respected," the ambassador said, adding that the ICJ advisory opinion does not impede concerned countries solving problems via dialogues.

United Nations Member States Thursday welcomed the European Union's willingness to facilitate dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo over the latter's declaration of independence from the former in early 2008.

In a resolution adopted by consensus, the General Assembly said "the process of dialogue in itself would be a factor for peace, security and stability in the region, and that dialogue would be to promote cooperation, achieve progress on the path to the European Union and improve the lives of the people."

The resolution also acknowledged the recent ICJ advisory opinion which said that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence did not violate international law.

Source:Xinhua