Russia's envoy to the UN predicted on Tuesday that Kosovo will never be accepted to the organization and that Resolution 1244 recognizing Serbia's territorial integrity will not be replaced.
"You know the balance of forces in the Security Council. And my words will not make anyone catch their breath while waiting for Resolution 1244 to be amended, replaced or canceled," Vitaly Churkin said.
"You also know the procedures required to join the UN: a recommendation of the Security Council is required for that first of all, and the balance of forces in the Security Council is evident," he said when asked to comment on Kosovo's Albanian authorities' request to cancel Resolution 1244 and on Pristina's attempt to join the UN.
Russia as one of the five UN Security Council veto-wielding members can block any decision it disagrees with.
Russia has always been strongly opposed to Kosovo's 2008 unilateral declaration of independence.
The UN International Court of Justice ruled on July 22 that Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia did not violate general international law. But Resolution 1244 that established the interim UN administration in Kosovo remains in force.
A total of 69 out of 192 UN member states have recognized Kosovo, which unilaterally proclaimed independence in February 2008. Serbia, Russia, China, India and some other countries have not recognized it, saying international law was violated.
UN, August 4 (RIA Novosti)
