Russia says UN should continue monitoring Kosovo

MOSCOW, October 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has urged the UN Security Council to continue monitoring the situation in Kosovo, a senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko said, "Moscow has always advocated the key role of the UN in every stage of the Kosovo settlement. Monitoring of the situation in Kosovo should be continued."

Yakovenko told a news conference in the Russian capital that Monday's UN Security Council session on Kosovo had adopted a recommendation by the UN Secretary General to begin negotiations on the status of Kosovo, designed to provide fair standards, equal rights, and security for all ethnic groups in the Serbian province.

The spirit of the document is completely in line with Russia's position, he said.

Ethnic Albanians make up 90% of Kosovo's two million residents, with the majority of Serbs living in enclaves protected by NATO troops, after Serbian troops were forced to withdraw by NATO in 1999.

Putin says Russia sees UN as most authoritative, universal organization - MOSCOW, October 24 (RIA Novosti) - President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia regarded the United Nations as the world's most authoritative and universal organization.

"We are convinced that in the new 21st century, a great deal should be done to consolidate the UN central coordinating role and to work out mechanisms of proper response to risks and threats within its framework," Putin said in his greetings to the assembly dedicated to the 60th UN anniversary. "Among them are the fight against terrorism and extremism, the resolution of local conflicts, the eradication of poverty and hunger and the settlement of ecological crises."

Putin confirmed Russia's readiness to work toward these goals.

"I am convinced that joint efforts by the international community will help create favorable conditions for the UN adaptation to modern developments and raise its effectiveness in all the key spheres," Putin said.

Earlier on Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko said Russia had become economically robust enough to raise its contribution to UN aid and development programs.

"Russia's economic situation has enabled [it] to increase the humanitarian, donor component of [its] aid to nations affected by conflicts," Yakovenko said.

The deputy minister said Russia had donated tens of millions of dollars to UN aid programs in recent years and that it was going to spend even more in the future.

"I would like to express hope that our cooperation with the UN will not just continue, but will be stepped up."

Russia has always underscored the UN's central role in dealing with international problems, including terrorism, and unifying the global community.

Russia welcomes Balkans' integration into EU - "The role of the EU in the region will be constantly increasing until the issue of Balkans' integration in the European community is resolved."

UN must lead global fight against terrorism -Putin - "I am convinced that terrorism poses today the main threat to human rights and freedoms as well as to sustainable development of states and peoples. That is why it is the United Nations and its Security Council that must be the main center for coordinating international cooperation in the fight against terrorism as the ideological successor of Nazism."

"After you, sir." "Oh no, after you."

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