The international community has continued to respond with mixed feelings to Kosovo's official declaration of independence on Sunday.
Serbian President Boris Tadic on Sunday called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to order the chief of the UN mission in Kosovo to annul Kosovo independence and to dissolve the interim parliament of Kosovo, the official Tanjug news agency reported.
"I call upon you to ensure that your Special Representative in Kosovo exercises his powers and responsibilities by immediately declaring this illegal act null and void," Tadic wrote in a letter to the UN chief.
"I also expect him to act pursuant to the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo (UNMIK/REG/2001/9 of 15 May 2001, para 8.1 b) and dissolve the Assembly of Kosovo, since its 'declaration of independence' is not in conformity with Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)," the letter read.
Tadic also requested that the UN Security Council declare Kosovo independence legally invalid.
"We insist that the Security Council fully protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia, as is called for in the UN Charter," Tadic wrote, urging the Security Council "to take urgent and effective action to ensure that all provisions of Resolution 1244 are fully respected."
Indonesia deplores failed negotiations at the UN Security Council as Kosovo unilaterally declared independence, saying it cannot immediately decide whether to recognize its independence or not.
"With Kosovo unilaterally declaring independence, we deplore failure in the dialogue," Indonesian UN ambassador Marty Natalegawa was quoted Monday by the national Antara news agency assaying.
"Since the very beginning, we have wanted that the final status of Kosovo is achieved through peaceful dialogues," he told the agency in New York.
"At present, we are not in the position to recognize (Kosovo's independence). The Indonesian government is monitoring the latest developments of the settlement process, which we certainly hope to be in accordance with the international principles and realities on the ground," said Marty.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said on Monday that her country will not recognize the independence of Kosovo.
She told a press conference that it is never the New Zealand government's position to offer diplomatic recognition in such circumstances.
"We neither recognize nor not recognize," she told reporters, adding that the New Zealand government will not make a formal statement.
Clark also hoped Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia would not lead to violence.
For its part, the Sri Lankan government said it did not endorse the unilateral secession of Kosovo from the Republic of Serbia because it could pose a grave threat to international peace and security, the official Daily News said Monday.
The newspaper quoted a statement issued Sunday night by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo could set an unmanageable precedent in the conduct of international relations and the established global order of sovereign states.
"We note that the declaration of independence was made without the consent of the majority of the people of Serbia and is a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, which enshrines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states," the statement said.
"Moreover, UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999 reaffirms commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states of the region."
"This action is particularly regrettable, since all efforts at reaching a negotiated political settlement on the future status of Kosovo, as envisaged by the Security Council Resolution 1244, have not been exhausted," the statement added.
Shortly after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Sunday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz said that Hungary wants to see Kosovo stick with the Ahtisaari plan, which includes guaranteeing minority rights, MTI news agency reported.
"In Hungary we consider it extremely important that Kosovo stick with the principles and values set in the Ahtisaari Plan, drawn up on commission of the UN Secretary-General. That includes democracy, rule of law, and the operation of a market economy. But, most of all, it means ensuring minority communities of the rights they are entitled to," Goncz was quoted as saying.
On its part, Hungary continues to call for a joint European Union position that focuses on an acceptable solution to the Kosovo issue, a position on increasing stability in the region, on cooperation with Serbia as a good neighbor, and on the interests of the ethnic Hungarian community living in Serbia, she said.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said on Monday his country is considering to recognize Kosovo as an independent state.
Machimura made the remarks at a press conference earlier in the day. He said the Japanese government is "moving toward recognizing" Kosovo since the progress seen was in line with Japan's criteria for recognizing states.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd expressed Monday his support for the independence of Kosovo.
Rudd told ABC Radio that the Australian government believes an independent Kosovo will be a good thing and it will offer official diplomatic recognition at the earliest opportunity.
He also said the sorry history of Kosovo means Australia has to do whatever it can to ensure the citizens of that part of the world are protected in the future.
Kosovo was a southern autonomous province within Serbia before the breakup of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Albanian-dominated region was plunged into ethnic conflicts in 1990s.
Kosovo has been under UN administration since mid-1999, after NATO air strikes drove Serbian forces out of the province.
Source: Xinhua
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