UN SC Resolution 1244 was adopted 21 years ago; Parts favor us, there are 2 "problematic" articles

Photo: Profimedia

21 years ago today the UN Security Council adopted its Resolution 1244, with the goal of providing a political solution to the crisis in Kosovo after the NATO bombing, preservation of international peace, security, and ensuring free return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes.

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With this resolution, the international, military and civilian presence in the former SRJ was approved, along with establishment of the interim administrative UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), placing Kosovo and Metohija, a Serbian province, under a UN mandate.

Resolution 1244 followed the consent of then-President Slobodan Milosevic to conditions proposed by Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari and former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin on June 8, which included the withdrawal of the Yugoslav Army (VJ) from Kosovo and Metohija (Annex 2 to the resolution).

The adoption of this act was preceded by negotiations between the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ, FRY; Serbia and Montenegro), Slobodan Milosevic, and Viktor Chernomyrdin, who was the representative of then Russian President Boris Yeltsin, and who joined the negotiations in agreement with the United States and the EU.

The agreement was reached in early June, with the mediation of Ahtisaari, who represented the EU and the UN. The document on the Milosevic-Ahtisaari-Chernomyrdin agreement, which was accepted by the National Assembly and then by the Federal Government, was the basis for Resolution 1244.

The resolution was passed one day after the signing in Kumanovo of the Military-Technical Agreemen, which ended the 78-day bombing of the SRJ. It was adopted by 14 votes to none

China abstained at the time because of its criticism of the NATO aggression, especially because of the bombing of its embassy in Belgrade. Its representatives stated that the conflict should have been resolved by the government of FR (SR) Yugoslavia and its citizens and that they should oppose foreign intervention. However, as the SRJ had accepted the peace proposal, China did not veto the resolution.

Vucic: Resolution 1244 is the only act, no one has proposed a new one

We will always have the strength to say "no" to what is contrary to our national and state interests, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said yesterday in Nis, speaking about this act.

He said that we are ready to talk about Kosovo, but not for ultimatums coming from Pristina - i.e., that the only condition is recognition by Serbia, with some additional wishes, related to territorial appetites and aspirations. He also hopes that we will have something to answer to with a "yes" - but that he has not seen such a compromise proposal yet.

Foto: Tanjug/Tara Radovanović

He stressed that Resolution 1244 has its good sides, but that there are also parts that our opponents hold on to.

However, it is currently the only valid international document related to Kosovo and Metohija.

Asked whether Resolution 1244 is still Serbia's argument around finding a solution for Kosovo and what power it has in Brussels and Washington, he said that the document has its good and bad sides, and pointed out that most of those who talk about it have not even read the document.

"There is no other act and I have not seen anybody propose one," said the president.

Which parts of the Resolution "help" Serbia, and which are "problematic"

Two articles of Resolution 1244 stand out as problematic: Article 3 and Article 11.

"Article 3 confirms the responsibility of the SRJ for the crisis, calls for an end to violence in Kosovo and Metohija and for the start of the withdrawal of forces. And the biggest problem for us - and fortunately Albanians did not know how to use it the right way - is Article 11, which leaves the possibility for citizens of Kosovo to declare their status in a referendum. Nine years after Rambouillet, Albanians made the decision (to unilaterally declare Independence) without a legally valid referendum, citing a 1999 decision - that was illegal in every way."

The complete text of Resolution 1244 (in Serbian) is available today on the website of the Government of Serbia.

(Telegraf.rs)