Russia to Insist on Postponing Assessment of Kosovo Standards Implementation

Radio Television of Serbia reported from Moscow that the Russian FM Sergey Lavrov said in a meeting with the Head of the SCG Coordination Centre for Kosovo Nebojsa Covic that Russia would insist in both the Contact Group and the UN Security Council that the assessment of the Kosovo standards be postponed for three or four months due to insufficient progress in their implementation. According to RTS, Lavrov has assessed that this time might also help special representatives for the issues of standards and status that are about to be appointed by the UN Secretary-General to better prepare for their jobs. Lavrov has pointed out that Russia insists on the consistent implementation of all provisions of UN Security Council resolution 1244, especially ones related to the return of IDPs and Belgrade’s legitimate interests in Kosovo.