By SPA
United Nations : The United Nations Security Council on Thursday evening condemned riots outside the U.S. embassy in Belgrade, Serbia spurred by Kosovo’s decision days earlier to announce its independence.
Security Council members condemned “in the strongest terms the mob attacks against embassies in Belgrade, which have resulted in damage to embassy premises and have endangered diplomatic personnel,” said Panama’s UN Ambassador Ricardo Arias, rotating council president for February.
The 15-member council also welcomed Serbian authorities’ attempts “to restore order and protect diplomatic property and personnel.”
Speaking before the council convened, American UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said he was “outraged” by the attacks on the US Embassy in Belgrade.
“The embassy is sovereign U.S. territory. The government of Serbia has a responsibility under international law to protect diplomatic facilities, particularly embassies,” he said.
“I’m going to go into the Security Council and ask for a unanimous statement to be issued expressing the council’s outrage, condemning the attack and also reminding the Serb government of its responsibility to protect diplomatic facilities,” Khalilzad added.
One person was found dead in the U.S. Embassy attack in Belgrade. Media reports said the deceased was not an embassy employee.
The United Nations Security Council held two emergency sessions on Sunday and Monday on the future status of Kosovo but failed to reach a consensus.
Kosovo nonetheless declared its independence on Sunday to the disappointment of Serbian President Boris Tadic who on Monday said the declaration was a violation of international law and recommended that the Security Council not set a precedent for other separatist movements.
There was also disagreement from two Security Council veto-wielding members, China and Russia.
The rest of the permanent five members, France, Britain, and the United States agreed to recognize the declaration.