Foreign Ministry comments on situation in Kosovo

The Russian Foreign Minister does not consider acceptable statementsundermining international efforts for restoring law and order and providingsecurity in Kosovo, as well as for combating extremism and organized crime,Boris Malakhov, deputy official representative of the Foreign Ministry, wasquoted by the information and press department of the Ministry as saying.A number of former active members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) hasbeen recently retained by the UN police in Kosovo. They are suspected ofcommitting serious crimes. In connection with this, the head of theregional administration criticized severely the internationaladministration's measures to fight crime.Malakhov stressed that the Russian party was insisting on the strictobservation of UN regulations and efficient collaboration with the UNmission. In this respect, one of the most important tasks is eliminatingcrime, which has developed immensely in the region, the representative ofthe Foreign Ministry pointed out. According to him, no matter what'political' motives criminals use, they should carry just punishment..