Russia, OIC cooperate to settle Kosovo crisis
Regional-Russia, Politics, 4/21/1999

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has announced that Russia hopes to cooperate with other countries including the Islamic states in its efforts to settle the crisis in Kosovo.

In a joint press conference held with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi on Moscow on Tuesday on results of consultations held on Tuesday with the liaison group of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Ivanov noted the exchange of views resulted in certain disputes between the two sides, noting that there "are many things in common in several debated issues."

Commenting on the situation arising in the Balkans, the Russian foreign minister said that the final settlement for the Kosovo crisis need a proper international presence, noting the impossibility of the military solution for the crisis.

For his part, chairman of the delegation of the OIC, Kamal Kharazi, who is also the Iranian FM, said that viewpoints were exchanged with the Russian side during which the OIC representatives expressed concern over the situations of the fleeing Kosovoan refugees.

Kharazi added that regret was expressed over the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Ivanov stressed that stances of Russia and the OIC are identical towards main issues to maintaining a settlement in Yugoslavia.

He indicated, on the other hand, differences in tactical matters. He noted that the OIC representatives give first priority to solving the question of the refugees while Russia sees that such an issue can not be settled as long as bombardment operations continue against Yugoslavia.

Previous Stories:
  OIC calls for end to forced exodus of Kosovars   (4/20/1999)
  Saudi Arabia warns against displacing Kosovo's Albanians   (4/20/1999)
  Russian foreign minister arrives at Cairo on Friday   (4/20/1999)
  OIC contact group on Kosovo to hold talks with Russian officials   (4/19/1999)

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