China calls for durable settlement of Kosovo issue: envoy
Xinhua, May 27, 2015 Adjust font size:
A Chinese envoy to the UN Tuesday called for pragmatic and constructive dialogue to find a durable solution to Kosovo issue.
Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, said at a UN Security Council meeting that the security situation in Kosovo has generally remained stable with efforts from parties concerned.
"The number of security incidents resulted from communal friction has decreased," he added that Kosovo as a society "still faced elements of uncertainty" in terms of development. The envoy commends Serbia for actively working to find a political solution to the question of Kosovo and welcomes the resumption of the high- level dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
"China supports the efforts by both parties to continue to pursue pragmatic and constructive dialogue, implement the existing agreement, effectively protect the rights and interests of different ethnicities in Kosovo, promote national reconciliation so that people can enjoy the dividends of peace and development sooner than later," he said.
Liu said that China hopes that the parties will avoid any words and actions that might escalate and complicate the situation.
He called on the parties to look actively for durable settlement to the question of Kosovo, noting that will serve the interest of the Balkans and Europe as a whole.
"China commends the work carried out by United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and supports its continued efforts to implement the Security Council's mandate," said Liu.
He also expressed the hope that UNMIK, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and the Kosovo Force will strengthen their coordination and cooperation
Kosovo is the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between Belgrade and Pristina. Serbia categorically refuses to recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008, though most leading European countries and the United States have exchanged diplomats with Kosovo. Endite