New York - Serbian President Boris Tadic remained adamant on Monday that his country will never give up its legitimate claim over the Kosovo province, warning that dozens of Kosovos around the world will be inspired to seek a separatist path.
Kosovo seceded from Serbia on Sunday and has been recognized by some of the world powers, including the United States, Italy, Britain, Belgium, France and Turkey.
Tadic spoke at an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council.
Russia and China, which like the US, France and Britain have veto power on the council, rejected Kosovo's independence and urged the UN and other governments to do the same.
Small nations on the council like Libya, South Africa, Panama, Indonesia, Vietnam and Burkina Faso struck a neutral position while blaming the situation on diplomacy's failure.
As for remaining council members, Croatia, which is acceding to the European Union, said it was 'harmonizing' its policy with a currently divided EU and would make a decision on Kosovo later. Costa Rica recognized Kosovo's independence.
The US, Italy, Britain, Belgium and France all support Kosovo's independence.
Appearing before the divided council, Tadic took the opportunity to reiterate Belgrade's strong position against losing its Kosovo province. He warned countries that recognize Kosovo's independence were also encouraging 'dozens' of other territories waiting for the chance to break away.
'Whoever may support Kosovo's independence must realize that this act legalizes the threat of violence as a means of creating new states and promoting one's own political agendas and interests,' Tadic said.
'I repeat, there are dozens of various Kosovos in the world and all of them lie in wait for Kosovo's act of secession to become a reality,' Tadic said. 'I warn you most seriously of the danger of the escalation of many of existing conflicts, the flaring up of frozen conflicts and the instigation of new ones.'
'Here in the UN Security Council, I say clearly and unequivocably: Serbia will never recognize the independence of Kosovo,' he said. 'We shall never renounce Kosovo and we shall not give up the struggle for our legitimate interests.'
'For the citizens of Serbia and its institutions, Kosovo will forever remain a part of Serbia.'
Tadic said, however, that Serbia wants to remain a European state and continue to work to remain one.
Belgrade has threatened to impose political, diplomatic and economic sanctions against Kosovo if it went ahead with a unilateral declaration of independence.
Kosovo's independence declaration has divided the European Union, which was unable to agree on a common position Monday. France, Germany, Italy and Britain all indicated they will recognize Kosovo.
The United States also formally recognized Kosovo, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Kosovo a 'special case' that should not be seen as a precedent by other separatist groups.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin and Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya both said Kosovo's independence would trigger unrest in the Balkans.
Churkin reiterated Moscow's calls for the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to annul the declaration of independence. Wang said he was greatly concerned by the development, urging renewed negotiations for a mutual solution because the future of the Balkans belonged in Europe.
'China hopes that the EU will take into account not only the interests of Serbia and Kosovo, but also the concerns of other countries in the region,' Wang said.
Unlike Wang, Churkin attacked the EU for launching a rule-of-law mission to Kosovo, calling it illegal because it had not been authorized by the UN Security Council.
'The UN Security Council had not authorized the launching of this operation,' Churkin said.
But the European members on the council - Britain, Belgium and Italy - disagreed, saying that the rule-of-law mission was permitted by a UN resolution.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon repeated a call for restraint by parties in the Balkans, but he showed more concern for the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), which is facing a difficult situation and may have to see its mandate adjusted to circumstances.
UNMIK, headed by Joachim Rucker of Germany, has been asked by Russia to annul Kosovo's independence because the UN had administrative influence in the territory as it established democratic institutions there since its arrival in 1999.
Since Kosovo declared independence on Sunday, Ban said the situation remained calm.
Ban said UNMIK might face difficulties in performing its duties because of the changing situation, which would require him to readjust the mission's mandate.
'It is my intention to act in an effective, realistic and concrete manner,' Ban said. 'I might have to adjust to developments and changes on the ground.'
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