UNITED NATIONS, July 6 -- As Serbian president Boris Tadic finally began speaking in the UN Security Council, five days after the deadly grenade attack in Mitrovica which triggered the “emergency” meeting, what he would say had been foretold. Radio Srbija, hours before the meeting, reported that Tadic had asked for a UNSC condemnation of the attack.
The contested office opening in Mitrovica, which the Radio Srbija story calls “illegal,” is the real issue. Will it be opened before the International Court of Justice rules on Kosovo's Unilateral Declaration of Independence?
Will the UNMIK mission, whose shrinkage foreshadowed that of MONUSCO in the Congo, step forward to perform a peacekeeping role? At 10:55 a.m., Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told Inner City Press that the meeting would be open. At 11 a.m., Tadic began. Watch this space.
Update of 11:15 a.m. -- Tadic's speech closely tracks Radio Srbija's foretelling, or vice versa. He calls the ICJ case the "largest in history."
Update of 11:19 a.m. -- Tadic says that no democratic government in Serbia will ever accept UDI. He emphasizes, at always, that the fight back is diplomatic. It brings to mind today's taking hostage of UN staff in Colombo by a Sri Lanka government minister and mob...
Update of 11:28 a.m. -- Lamberto Zannier of UNMIK runs through an account of the grenade attack, asking the Council to join him in expression of concen for the shot Serbian MP Petar Miletic.
Update of 11:33 a.m. -- EU speaker also describes the grenade attack "600 meters from the office." Also speaks of Petar Miletic. Says EULEX has been threatened in Northern Kosovo.
Update of 11:38 a.m. -- "Kosovo is sovereign, determined to exercise its authority, regardless or ethnic or religious background." Kosovo says the "violent protest" obviously had the support of Belgrade.
Update of 11:47 a.m. -- Kosovo says its office in Mitrovica "will continue."
Update of 11:50 a.m. -- those hand grenades were most probably thrown from the very protesters, Kosovo says.
Why not wait until the ICJ rules? There is no connection between the office and the ruling, he replied. We'll see: watch this site.
And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1mitrovica070610.html
