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Cyprus Will Vote For Serbia's Kosovo Resolution, France Still Silent on EU Position

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, September 27 -- Breakaway states and their legality have been a theme of this week's UN General Debate, although the Permanent Five members of the Security Council are still in disarray.  The GA's General Committee has put on the agenda a resolution by Serbia to get an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. On September 26, Inner City Press asked the President of Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias, if his country is going to vote in favor of Serbia's resolution. "Yes, this is our decision," replied President Christofias. Video here, from Minute 17:09.

  Inner City Press asked Jean-Maurice Ripert, the Ambassador of France, which hold the presidency of the European Union, if France or the EU is any closer deciding how to vote on the Serbian proposal, and if the EU wants to find a consensus position. We are still working, Ripert said, adding that of course the EU wants to act in a unified manner. Video here.

  Since Finland has already said it will not vote against the resolution, and EU member Cyprus has said it will positively vote in favor of it, the only possible consensus position is an EU "yes" vote. But not only France, but also the UK, have resisted offering any public support to Serbia's request for a legal ruling. France has said the request "creates turbulences."

   The UK is said to have bemoaned the proposal in the closed-door General Committee meeting. Both countries quickly recognized Kosovo, but spoke out against Russia's recognition of the declarations of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  Cypriot President Christofias, on the other hand, told Inner City Press that his country does not believe or engage in "double standards," and for that reason has not recognized Kosovo's independence.  For Cyprus, it would be contradictory to be citing the principle of its territorial integrity with respect to the northern part of the island, but recognize Kosovo despite Serbia's claim of territorial integrity.

Dimitris Christofias on Sept. 26, yes vote on Serbia resolution not yet shown

  President Christofias on September 26 said there are 40,000 Turkish troops in Northern Cyprus, and 160,000 settlers. On September 27, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said "almost 40,000" Turkish soldiers.  The analogy to the Russian soldiers -- sometimes called peacekeepers -- in South Ossetia and Georgia couldn't be more clear. Will we one day be hearing about a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution to those two breakaways?

Footnote: after the press conference of Cypriot President Christofias, Inner City Press asked Cyprus' new Permanent Representative to the UN Minas Hadjimichael, who chairs the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, whether any complaints have been received by the committee about the U.S. denying visas. Not yet, he said, indicating that he was aware of some problems looming, and of Inner City Press' coverage. On September 27, Inner City Press asked Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin about the status of the Arria formula meeting he has called for early October, inviting representatives of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Have they gotten visas? No. Inner City Press asked, have they applied? Yes, Churkin said. Video here.

   The Committee on Relations with the Host Country meets on October 2. Given past practices, here's hoping Cypriot Ambassador Minas Hadjimichael runs it in an open and transparent manner.

 Watch this site, and this Sept. 18 (UN) debate.

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Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund.  Video Analysis here

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