Serbia has finally been persuaded to compromise over Kosovo. On the eve of a vote on the UN General Assembly resolution on Kosovo, Serbia (which had been calling for Kosovo's status to be reconsidered) threw its weight behind the EU initiative. The resolution now goes forward as a joint EU-Serbian initiative.
The resolution passed by an overwhelming majority of the 192-nation assembly on September 9 contains no mention of the illegality of Kosovo's independence, or the fact that Belgrade will never accept it, nor does it call for fresh talks on Kosovo's status.
EU diplomats did a good job editing the document, which in legal terms is considered a letter of intent. Despite Serbia's fierce rebuttal of any such suggestion, the resolution highlights Belgrade's changing position.
The document mentions unresolved problems, takes into consideration the July 2010 ruling of the International Court of Justice that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not contravene international law and also initiates economic dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina under EU auspices.
Now that clauses referring to the illegality of Kosovo's independence have been omitted, several EU countries refusing to recognize Kosovo (Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Slovakia) can now take part in this dialogue. Seventy states have recognized Kosovo to date, while another 60, including Russia and China, refuse to do so. Kosovo is unable to join the UN because, as permanent UN Security Council members, Moscow and Beijing have the right to veto all decisions. All other countries have either delayed recognition of Pristina's independence or have assumed a wait-and-see attitude.
RIA Novosti
