The Kosovo crisis dominated the agenda of a Council meeting, which was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The international community is facing the consequences of the irresponsible policy NATO and the European Union pursued at the outset of the Kosovo crisis, supporting Kosovo's Albanians in their aspiration for independence, according to Mr. Karaganov.
They failed to create a mechanism that would have deterred the persecution of Serbs, which eventually resulted in ethnic cleansing.
"If the Kosovo crisis continues to be unaddressed, it may aggravate the situation in Bosnia and the entire region," said Mr. Karaganov.
He said Russia had taken a correct decision by sending troops to Kosovo. Russia, thereby, saved NATO a disgrace and, at the same time, allowed it to remain inactive while it had to carry through the operation, according to Mr. Karaganov.
Russia must exert strong pressure to bear on NATO and international contingents in Kosovo to make them meet their obligations to bring stability to the province.
In comments on the latest developments in Iraq, Mr. Karaganov said the United States had made a terrible mistake by invading the country. The US troops have stuck there and Washington is about to ask for the international community's assistance, according to the expert.
Mr. Karaganov believes Washington and the global community will sooner or later back Russia's idea of convening an international conference on Iraq. "Americans should leave the country or at least pretend they have left it," said Mr. Karaganov.
However, if Americans leave Iraq without settling the situation, the United Nations will have to bear full responsibility for settling the crisis. The UN will deal a major blow on its own potential if it has to send troops to Iraq. This would be the worst development.
Mr. Karaganov believes the US and the occupying forces must be forced to step up settlement efforts in Iraq under the UN aegis.
