The President stressed that the aim of his visit to Kosovo was to reaffirm Russia’s obligations in the region and discuss the problems of the Russian military contingent.
Mr Putin evaluated the state of Russian troops in Kosovo as quite satisfactory. He noted that there were some problems with financing and logistics but they were not insoluble and would be resolved.
Touching on his meeting with representatives of the UN Security Council, whose mission is staying in Kosovo, Mr Putin said that he wanted to learn how UN Security Council Resolution 1244 was being implemented and to discuss Russia’s position on issues that directly bear upon it.
The President also said that Russia supported the idea of President Vojislav Kostunica of Yugoslavia to hold a conference on the Balkans.
In the President’s view, if the states of the region gather and reaffirm their commitment to international law, the UN Charter, the principles of non-interference in the affairs of other countries and territorial integrity, as well as the Dayton agreements and other international treaties, that could only be beneficial.