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Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to UN: â€œAzerbaijan respects Serbiaâ€™s sovereignty and territorial integrity and doesnâ€™t recognize Kosovoâ€™s unilateral declaration of independenceâ€

09 February 2012 16:01 (UTC +04:00)

The Ambassador mentioned that Azerbaijan respected Serbiaâ€™s sovereignty and territorial integrity and did not recognize Kosovoâ€™s unilateral declaration of independence.

According to him, the UN Security Council 1999 Resolution on Kosovo’s independence was the binding international legal basis for resolving the Kosovo question and providing security, including guidelines for a comprehensive settlement in the political process, he said, emphasizing that divergences over its interpretation and the lack of progress in negotiations could not justify unilateral actions.

"The 2010 advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice did not address the circumstances of the unilateral declaration of independence or clarify whether Kosovo had a right to secede from Serbia, whether that action was in conformity with international law, or whether it had led to the creation of a State. Attempts to impose unilateral solutions to crises, including when such actions were controlled externally or coupled with outside aid, seriously threatened regional peace, security and stability", Mr. Mehdiyev said.

He also mentioned that the dangerous escalation of tensions showed how elusive were the hopes of those in favor of the unilateral declaration, he said, stressing his countryâ€™s deep concern about the violence in northern Kosovo.

Calling on all stakeholders to engage in dialogue to restore stability, the Azerbaijani envoy said progress in implementing previous agreements was commendable, and it was to be hoped that discussions on the European perspective and Serbiaâ€™s candidature would not be further delayed.

He said, attention should also focus on persons reported missing, issues of religious and cultural heritage, and reports of organ trafficking.