Serbia denounces Kosovo's incursion before UN Security Council

Aug 30, 2011, 15:11 GMT

New York - Serbia asked the UN Security Council on Tuesday to hold Kosovo's leaders accountable for the military incursion in the Serb-dominated northern part of Kosovo in July.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic blamed the 15-nation council for the brief conflict, in which armed Kosovar troops invaded municipalities inhabited by ethnic Serbs who remain loyal to Belgrade.

'Serbia is urging the UN Security Council to send a clear message that the military incursion is unacceptable,' Jeremic said of the July 25 military operation in northern Kosovo, which caused casualties on both sides after Kosovo Serbs resisted the attempt.

Belgrade last month charged Pristina of trying to impose a unilateral solution in northern Kosovo. Jeremic also blamed the UN council and the European Union law and order mission in Kosovo for the failure to stop Pristina's military operation because both organizations are responsible for peace and stability in Kosovo.

The UN said Kosovo's military action was the most serious so far undertaken by the territory, which seceded from Belgrade and unilaterally declared an independent state in 2009. Belgrade, backed by Moscow, rejected the independence move. Pristina is recognized by about 40 governments, but not by the UN.

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