Belarus–Kosovo relations

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Belarusian–Kosovar relations

Belarus
Kosovo

Belarusian–Kosovar relations are foreign relations between Belarus and Kosovo.[a]

History[]

In February 2008, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko wrote in a letter to Serbian President Boris Tadić that "Belarus expresses its solidarity with the Serbians' intention to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity".[1] The National Assembly of Belarus had issued a statement condemning the declaration of independence and encouraged all nations to call the move "illegal" under international law.[2][3]

The Foreign Ministry of Belarus published a statement saying "that the settlement of the Kosovo and Metochia [sic] status should progress under international law, based on UN Security Council resolution 1244 (of 1999) which is a fundamental document for the Kosovo settlement certifying the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia, and based on the key provisions of the UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act, with the essential role of the UN Security Council bearing a predominant responsibility for safeguarding international peace and security".[4]

In a 3 December 2009 hearing at the ICJ, the Belarusian delegation said that secession by international law was allowed only in former colonies, or in cases where the minority population was oppressed for a long period of time and was denied the participation in government, and that the situation in Kosovo had not met these criteria traditionally interpreted as the right for "external" self-determination. The delegation continued saying that the internal law of Serbia, as well as UNSC resolutions, were satisfactory for the "internal" self-determination of the Albanian population.[5]

In May 2012 the Belarusian ambassador to Serbia, Uladzimir Chushaw, said that Belarus will never recognise the independence of Kosovo. He was quoted as saying, "The Kosovo wounds are hurting us very much."[6]

See also[]

Notes[]

a.   ^ The political status of Kosovo is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, it is formally recognised as an independent state by 97 UN member states (with another 15 recognising it at some point but then withdrawing recognition), while Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory.

References[]

  1. ^ Belarus supports Serbians' pursuit of territorial integrity, National Center of Legal Information of the Republic of Belarus, 28 February 2008 Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Belarus' Parliament issues statement in connection with Kosovo self-declaration of independence Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, BelTA, 21 February 2008
  3. ^ ЗАЯВЛЕНИЕ Постоянной комиссии Совета Республики по международным делам и национальной безопасности и Постоянной комиссии Палаты представителей по международным делам и связям с СНГ Национального собрания Республики Беларусь Archived 28 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, 21 February 2008 (in Russian)
  4. ^ Statement by the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Belarus relating to the unilateral proclamation of independence by the Kosovo temporary authorities of self-government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus
  5. ^ Treći dan rasprave o Kosovu, RTS, 3 December 2009 (in Serbian)
  6. ^ Belarus will never recognize Kosovo's independence, says ambassador to Serbia, Naviny, 31 May 2012
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