Russia, China urge compromise, not time-bound solution on Kosovo

Russia, China urge compromise, not time-bound solution on Kosovo
Itar-Tass (Russia) - January 31, 2007 Wednesday 12:48 AM EST

BEIJING, January 31 - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov and his Chinese counterpart Zhang Yesui have discussed the situation in Kosovo.

``Our positions on Kosovo coincide with China. We both call for the search of a compromise solution, not time-bound, to reach an outcome that will contribute to stronger peace and stability not only in the Balkans, but in a wider context,'' Titov said in an interview with Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

That how Kosovo's future will be resolved ``will be of very considerable importance and will project on other regional and international situations,'' he said.

``The world community for the first time faces separation not of a constituent territory of the federation, not of a sovereign republic, but of a part of one state. If such separation takes place without consent of this state, this will create an extremely negative precedent for other situations,'' Titov said.

``We consider these consultations (in Beijing) as one more step to expand our foreign policy cooperation with China within the framework of the existing strategic partnership,'' he said.