China expressed grave concern over Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao on Monday.

 

"Kosovo's unilateral act can produce a series of results that will lead to seriously negative influence on peace and stability in the Balkan region and on the realization of building a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo, which China is deeply concerned about," said Liu.

 

He said the settlement of the Kosovo issue concerns the peace and stability in the Balkan region, the basic norms governing international relations and the authority and role of the United Nations Security Council.

 

He added that China has always held that the best way to resolve the Kosovo issue is that Serbia and Kosovo reach a plan acceptable for both sides through negotiation.

 

"China calls on the two sides of Serbia and Kosovo to continue to seek a proper solution through negotiation within the framework of international law, and the international community should create favorable conditions for this," said Liu.

 

Kosovo's parliament voted Sunday to adopt a declaration of independence at an extraordinary session on its independence from Serbia.

 

Kosovo now is "an independent, sovereign and democratic state," Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi announced after lawmakers voted 109-0 through a show of hands to approve the declaration.

 

But Serbian President Boris Tadic said that Serbia will never recognize the independence of Kosovo.

 

He urged international organizations "to immediately annul this act, which violates the basic principles of international law."

 

Kosovo was a southern autonomous province within Serbia before the breakup of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Among its population of 2 million, over 90 percent are ethnic Albanians and Serbs make up about 7 percent.

 

Kosovo has been under UN administration since mid-1999, after NATO air-strikes drove out Serbian forces from the province.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2008)