[Monday, February 18, 2008 - 04.20 GMT] 

Sri Lanka does not endorse the unilateral secession of Kosovo from the Republic of Serbia, a Foreign Ministry statement said yesterday (February 17). 

“Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) by Kosovo could set an unmanageable precedent in the conduct of international relations, the established global order of sovereign States and could thus pose a grave threat to international peace and security,” the Ministry said. 

We noted that declaration of independence was made without the consent of the majority of the people of Serbia and is a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, which enshrines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States. 

Moreover, UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999 reaffirms commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States of the region. This action is particularly regrettable, since all efforts at reaching a negotiated political settlement on the future status of Kosovo, as envisaged by the Security Council Resolution 1244, have not been exhausted.

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Last Updated Date: February 18, 2008 - 4.20 GMT