Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin on Monday called on the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and NATO-led peacekeepers (KFOR) to exercise "prudence and restraint" in dealing with Serb protesters.
Speaking to reporters after attending a monthly Security Council luncheon, Churkin said there were "serious questions" about the "wisdom" and "lack of restraint" about the latest attempt to remove Serbs from a courthouse in Kosovo because there was "a possibility of continuing discussions to resolve this matter without the use of force."
"After all, when unilateral proclamation of independence was made by the Parliament in Pristina, no one came storming the Parliament in Pristina even though it was a gross violation of (Security Council Resolution 1244)," he said.
Churkin repeated a Russian warning against "the international presence' resorting to force in order to make the Serbs who would not be accepting the unilateral proclamation of independence accept when they don't want to accept."
Russia calls on UNMIK and KFOR to "exercise prudence and restraint ... to avoid the use of force," he added.
International peacekeepers stormed a courthouse in Kosovo's northern town of Mitrovica on Monday to remove Serb protesters who seized the building on Friday, setting off clashes that injured dozens of peacekeepers and demonstrators.
Source:Xinhua
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