(italiano / english -- parte 4)
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=01&dd=25&nav_category=92&nav_id=39244
B92 (Serbia) - January 25, 2007
Word 'independence' out of Resolution
STRASBOURG, BELGRADE, PRIŠTINA - The Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a
resolution on Kosovo yesterday.
The paragraph stating that only independence for
Kosovo can ensure stability in the region was erased
from the text of the resolution on Kosovo yesterday.
The Resolution was adopted with 99 votes in favor, 36
against and 14 in abstention.
The final text of the resolution does not contain the
word `independence'. The part stating that all
interested parties in the region are obliged not to
demand the alteration of borders and to accept current
Kosovo borders as permanent was also erased.
The resolution maintains that the only viable and
undisputable solution is to reach a mutual agreement
from both sides. However, the Council of Europe
asserts that the decision to impose a solution should
be reached if negotiations come to a dead-end.
The resolution calls on Kosovo Serbs to take part in
the social and political life in Kosovo.
Serbian delegation Chief Miloš Aligrudić said
that the delegation members voted against the
resolution as a matter of principle.
"A few of the amendments we suggested, demanding that
the CoE (Council of Europe) Parliamentary Assembly
accept the reality that Kosovo is an integral part of
Serbia as is given in the UN Resolution 1244, did not
pass. Our amendment to erase the part which mentions
the possibility of an imposed solution also lacked
support. That's why we could not vote in favor of the
resolution", Aligrudić said.
The Parliamentary Assembly also adopted a
recommendation to offer strong support to Serbia as it
is going through a very delicate political phase.
Janjić: Defensive position is never good
The head of the Forum for Ethnic Relations thinks that
Russia played a key part in adopting the Resolution
with the word `independence' erased from the text.
Janjić deemed positive the fact that the Council
of Europe did not accept a formulation that would
shape the solution in advance and cause difficulties
during the next stage.
"We shouldn't have come into this kind of situation
where we are compelled to act defensively. Serbia
should have initiated a resolution to elaborate on the
human rights of both Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo,
and create a dialogue to see whether the independence,
advocated by many, could actually solve current
problems. The majority members of the Council of
Europe did not take it for granted that independence
could remove all problems from Kosovo, as if it were a
magic wand", Janjić concluded.
Priština still silent
No one is Priština has reacted to the Resolution so
far. On the contrary, all Albanian politicians who
addressed the public maintained that independence for
Kosovo is the only possible solution.
Even though Marti Ahtisaari's visit to Priština is ten
days off, official Priština only expects independence,
possibly explaining the decision by Kosovo politicians
to not assign much importance to the resolution
adopted yesterday.
The media in Kosovo have thus left to appease the
public.
They have maintained that, even though the word
independence was omitted form the text, the Resolution
itself does not exclude the mere possibility of
independence.
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1282_january_25_2007/n_1282_1.htm
The Messenger (Georgia) - January 25, 2007
Putin stresses Serbian integrity, reaffirms Kosovo precedent
By David Matsaberidze
On January 21 Russian President Vladimir Putin
reiterated his view that the final status of the
disputed Serbian region of Kosovo should serve as a
model for conflict resolution across the former Soviet
Union.
"The problem of Kosovo bears a universal character,
thus it can serve as a basis and precedent for
conflict settlement of post-Soviet ethnic clashes and
disturbances in entire CIS space," Putin declared at a
joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Putin stressed the importance of the recognition of
the rights of ethnic minorities to self determination,
and pointed to the apparent contradiction in
international law between that right and the principle
of territorial integrity.
The fact that the majority of the international
community is in favour of independence for the mainly
Albanian populated province of Kosovo against the
wishes of Serbia "gives the right to other ethnic
minorities to declare: we are in favour of the Serbian
model as a tool of conflict regulation," asserted
Putin, as quoted by Civil Georgia.
However, Putin's insistence on the 'Kosovo precedent'
could stem from Russia's firm commitment to Serbian
integrity, rather than encouragement to separatist
movements in the Georgia and Moldova.
In a telephone conversation with Serbian Prime
Minister Vojislav Kostunica later that day, Putin
confirmed that he was against any settlement on Kosovo
not backed by Serbia proper, Eurasia Daily Monitor
reported.
Putin implied that any status plan not backed by
Belgrade would be vetoed by the United Nations
Security Council, and that the solution must stem from
the principle of territorial integrity.
Georgian experts are divided on Russia's intentions
over the Kosovo issue.
....
Security expert Temur Iakobashvili says that by
stressing the idea of Kosovo as a precedent Russia is
"targeting western countries, rather than threatening
Georgia."
---
http://www.b92.net/eng/insight/opinions.php?nav_id=39202
B92 (Serbia) -- January 22, 2007
America's Kosovo Dilemma
William Montgomery
While the European Union, as well as other European
countries shared U.S. concerns over the treatment of
Kosovo Albanians by the Milošević regime, the
United States was the driving force behind Western
diplomatic activity regarding Kosovo over the past
fifteen years.
In December, 1992 we unilaterally issued the famous
"Christmas warning" to Milošević that any
provocations by his government which caused major
violence in Kosovo would be answered even by military
force.
Envoys such as Robert Gelbard, Richard Holbrooke, Bill
Walker and Chris Hill were prominent in negotiating
with the Serbian government and pressing it to improve
the human rights situation in Kosovo.
It was Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who took
the lead in pressing the case for NATO bombing and
NATO Supreme Commander Wesley Clark that carried it
out.
By the time that UNMIK and KFOR arrived in Kosovo in
1999, certain opinions were locked in stone. Nothing
that has taken place over the past seven years,
including the fall of Milošević and the
democratic transition in Serbia has changed them.
First of all, virtually every Kosovo Albanian is
passionately determined to be irrevocably separated
from Serbia and to have full independence. A
significant number are willing to resort once again to
violence, if necessary, to bring it about.
Secondly, the Kosovo Albanians are grateful to the
United States for its role thus far and more
importantly, because they believe it is the United
States that will ensure that independence in the near
future.
The United States consequently has a stature and
credibility with Kosovo Albanians that no other
country has. Like many in the Balkans, the Kosovo
Albanians are skeptical about the strength and
determination of the European Union.
Finally, there are concrete reasons why this bond with
Americans remains so strong. Namely, it is difficult
to find any influential official, policy maker, or
independent foreign affairs specialist in the United
States who has not publicly or privately indicated
that independence for Kosovo within current borders is
the only possible outcome. Most made no secret of
their views.
Richard Holbrooke in a 2003 visit to Belgrade bluntly
told Serbian leaders that they would have to "choose
between Kosovo and Europe and that if you chose
Kosovo, you will get neither."
The International Crisis Group, various Senators and
Congressmen, and other non-governmental groups have
been equally direct in pressing the case for
independence.
The United States has also been in the forefront of
pressing for resolution of the final status question
quickly, in large part so that the overwhelming
majority of our troops in the Balkans could be
withdrawn.
The European Union members of the Contact Group have
endorsed the scenario of conditional independence for
Kosovo under the supervision of the European Union.
Several months ago they placed the vanguard of their
transitional team in Kosovo with the idea that
following the necessary UN Resolution, the European
Union would replace UNMIK. They have already
delineated the functions that they would perform and
supervise.
While the Serbian political leadership disappointed
the Western members of the Contact Group because of
their unwillingness to either accept this outcome or
to prepare its population for it, this in no way ever
led to any reconsideration by the EU or the United
States about the final status.
The growing strength of the Radicals did sufficiently
concern the West so that they made some accommodations
to Serbia (postponing the date of the final status
recommendations until after the Serbian elections,
admitting Serbia to Partnership for Peace, and
announcing that a fresh look will be taken by the EU
on the visa regime for Serbia).
What has dramatically changed the entire equation is
the growing realization that Russia is likely to
prevent any UN Security Council Resolution which
contains elements unacceptable to Serbia. This has now
been made publicly clear both by President Putin and
Foreign Minister Lavrov.
The latter was just quoted as saying that any solution
had to be acceptable to both Pristina and Belgrade and
that "There can be no imposed solutions."
The reality is that the "correlation of forces" in the
world has changed dramatically since the 1999 Kosovo
Bombing Campaign and the UN Security Council
Resolution 1244 which was passed in its immediate
aftermath.
Now, an assertive Russia is looking for ways to show
its strength and independence. The Kosovo issue is an
easy way to demonstrate it. Given the public comments
now made, it is hard to see how Russia can change
course without losing face.
The United States and some EU members are continuing
to push for resolution of final status in the next few
months with conditional independence as the outcome.
They are still hoping that in negotiations over the
Security Council Resolution, they will be able to
secure wording which will be ambiguous, but sufficient
to then move rapidly to conditional independence.
This remains the U.S. position, strongly supported by
all of the influential foreign policy players in the
United States mentioned above. In other words, the
U.S. Administration is pressed by its domestic
constituency to continue to pursue an option which
looks unlikely to succeed.
The United States is thus faced first of all with the
problem of keeping increasingly skeptical Europeans on
board for this solution while figuring out how to
bring Russia along. It will require very "heavy
lifting" on the part of the United States with Russia
and the EU will be of little help in this process.
Russian intransigence could well lead to the following
scenarios:
a. The potential for no UN Resolution at all. While
the EU is already considering pushing for a simple
resolution strictly limited to permitting it to take
over in Kosovo from the UN, there is absolutely no
guarantee that the Russians will allow even that. They
may well insist on adding language to that resolution
which makes coming to closure on Kosovo far harder
than it already is.
Many Europeans have privately stated their
unwillingness to move into Kosovo to replace UNMIK
without a UN Resolution authorizing it. If they do
not, Kosovo will be left with a depleted, demoralized
UNMIK for the foreseeable future.
Many of its best cadre has already secured new
positions and its authority has diminished due to its
lame duck status. This would leave Kosovo virtually in
limbo. It could also mean that the U.S. objective of
withdrawing its troops from the Balkans could be
frustrated.
b. The virtual certainty of a dramatic rise in
violence in this year, instigated at least initially
by Kosovo Albanian extremists.
The only question is where it will be directed.
Initial targets may well be the Serbian minority and
UNMIK. But it is not to be ruled out that in their
bitter disappointment over the lack of movement on
independence, even the U.S. forces may become a
target. This would be the Bush Administration's worst
nightmare. In any case, KFOR will not be able to
prevent this upsurge of violence and its consequences
can be severe.
c. There is also the possibility of a split between
the European Union and the United States. This could
happen in two ways. The first is EU willingness to
accept wording from the Russians in a Resolution which
is unacceptable to the United States. The second is
European unwillingness to circumvent the UN. It is
obvious that many Europeans do not feel the same
urgency about Kosovo as does the United States.
By our nature, by our focus on events in Iraq and
Afghanistan (and the shortage of troops for those
areas), and due to our domestic constituency, the
United States will be determined to bring the Kosovo
issue to closure. The natural tendency of the European
Union when faced with this sort of controversy is to
delay, to put off decision-making. It is easy to
imagine the United States pressing for action outside
of the UN and the EU resisting such a step.
Moreover, if the United States feels that the EU is
backing away from possible solutions or is willing to
endorse unacceptable ones, it can always threaten to
exercise the option of simply washing its hands of
Kosovo and walking away. As unlikely as this may seem,
the EU and others will be making a big mistake if they
disregard this possibility.
---
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2511
Interfax-Religion - January 25, 2007
PACE drops independence recommendation from Kosovo
resolution
Strasbourg - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE) has decided to refrain from any
specific recommendations on the status of Kosovo.
During the debate on the draft resolution on the
current situation in Kosovo a key provision earlier
resisted by many, primarily the Russian delegation,
was dropped by 90 votes against 64, with 11
abstentions.
The provision read as follows: "While respecting
Serbia's interest and right to preserve its
territorial integrity, the Assembly believes that
Kosovo's independence - subject to certain conditions
- is the solution most likely to bring about durable,
long-term peace and stability for Kosovo and the
entire region, in addition to being the one which
corresponds to the will of the majority of Kosovars."
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/25/europe/EU-GEN-Armenia-Nagorno-Karabakh.php
Associated Press - January 25, 2007
Foreign mediators of Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute
diverge on Kosovo precedent
YEREVAN, Armenia - Foreign mediators trying to resolve
a long-standing territorial dispute between Armenia
and Azerbaijan voiced optimism, but appeared to
diverge Thursday on whether the resolution of Kosovo's
final status would be a firm precedent.
Diplomats from Russia, France and the United States
have headed efforts by the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe's so-called Minsk Group to
resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
The mountainous territory inside Azerbaijan has been
controlled by ethnic Armenian forces since the early
1990s, and tensions remain high between Armenia and
Azerbaijan.
In Kosovo, Russia backs demands by the Serbian
leadership that it should stay part of Serbia while
the United States favors independence for the
province.
President Vladimir Putin has suggested that should
Kosovo be granted independence, that would have a
direct effect on how other lingering separatist
disputes in the former Soviet Union are resolved.
Chief U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari plans to disclose
recommendations on Kosovo's future to Western
governments and Russia on Friday.
Following a visit Thursday to Stepanakert, the capital
of Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian diplomat Yuri Merzlyakov
said Kosovo's final status would be a precedent for
the Armenia-Azerbaijani dispute.
"I consider naturally that it will set a precedent.
The decision could be one thing or another because the
talk is about the status of autonomy for a province in
Kosovo. Naturally, there could be other opinions," he
said.
Diplomats from the United States and France disagreed.
"There isn't any sort of universal precedent and each
situation, every conflict differs from every other
conflict," said Matthew J. Bryza,, a U.S. deputy
assistant secretary of state.
"Each conflict has its own difficulties and it's
necessary to resolve conflicts on the basis of the
particular aspects that each has," said French
diplomat Bernard Fassier.
A shaky cease-fire in 1994 ended six years of fighting
in Nagorno-Karabakh that left 30,000 people killed and
about 1 million driven from their homes and left
Karabakh and Armenian forces in control of the
territory. Gunfire breaks out regularly along the
border between the two ex-Soviet countries and in the
regions near Nagorno-Karabakh.
The lack of resolution of the territory's status has
tied up development in the energy-rich South Caucasus.
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/#5158693
Radio Netherlands - January 26, 2007
Russia sceptical of Kosovo plan
Russia has voiced scepticism about UN mediator Martti
Ahtisaari's plan for the future of the Serbian
province of Kosovo. The main details of the plan have
leaked out ahead of its official announcement.
It proposes self-determination for Kosovo under
international control and a continued NATO presence in
the short term.
The safety of the province's Serb minority remains a
primary concern. The report avoids explicit reference
to independence, something Serbia strongly opposes.
The European Union and Kosovo itself are in favour of
independence.
The plan has now been put to the Contact Group of
Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, the United
States and Russia and will be presented to Serbia and
Kosovo on 2 February.
Depending on the response, the plan will then be
submitted to the UN for a definitive decision by the
Security Council.
Kosovo came under international control after a NATO
air campaign drove Serbian troops from the province in
1999.
http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Russia_and_West_divided_on_U_N_Kosovo_plan.html?siteSect=143&sid=7469056&cKey=1169820555000
Reuters - January 26, 2007
Russia and West divided on U.N. Kosovo plan
By Matt Robinson
VIENNA - Russia is sceptical about a plan by United
Nations envoy Martti Ahtisaari that would give
Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo virtual
independence, a diplomat told Reuters on Friday.
After a meeting in Vienna with the six-member Contact
Group of major powers, the diplomat said Russia had
urged a delay in any U.N. decision on Kosovo until
Serbia had formed a new government following an
inconclusive general election on Jan 21.
"It was a very tough meeting. The Russians are very
sceptical about the plan," said the senior diplomat,
who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"I have never seen the Quint (United States, Britain,
France, Germany and Italy) more united."
Ahtisaari's official spokesman Remi Dourlot told
reporters after the meeting the envoy would travel to
Belgrade and Pristina as planned on February 2 to
present his proposal to officials.
The Contact Group has set policy on Kosovo since the
U.N. took control of the 90-percent ethnic Albanian
province in 1999.
Ahtisaari drafted his plan after more than a year of
shuttle diplomacy and fruitless Serb-Albanian talks.
Diplomatic sources said the Vienna meeting was
intended to be the last step before he presented his
blueprint to officials next Friday.
Ahtisaari is instructed to hold further talks with
Serbs and Albanians in coming weeks, but diplomats
have told Reuters this would be merely finetunning
details of the plan.
Eight years after NATO drove out Serb forces accused
of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo while fighting Albanian
separatists, Kosovo's Albanians demand nothing less
than full independence.
Belgrade is offering only far-reaching autonomy for a
territory it sees as the sacred cradle of the Serb
nation.
Diplomatic sources told Reuters this week the plan
would set Kosovo on the road to independence with
international supervision, giving it the right to
apply for membership of international organisations,
possibly including the U.N., the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
They said it would provide for a right to dual
citizenship, and urge Pristina to establish good
relations with Serbia, but contain no reference to
Serbian sovereignty.
LONG COALITION TALKS
Russia's insistence on waiting for a new government in
Belgrade could mean a delay of weeks or months.
Last weekend's general election in Serbia failed to
produce a clear majority and parties were preparing
for lengthy coalition talks.
The... Radical Party won 28 percent of the vote but
could find no partner that would give it a majority.
The pro-Western Democratic Party came second and is
looking for a deal with the party of moderate
nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and a
smaller liberal party.
Kostunica used increasingly hardline rhetoric during
his campaign and has said a common stance on Kosovo is
the key to a coalition deal. It is not clear how easy
it will be for him to agree with the Democrats on how
to handle the potential loss of the province.
Parties have until late May to agree on a coalition,
or a new election would have to be called.
After a meeting in Brussels, NATO, which keeps
16,000-plus peacekeepers in the province, also advised
against a delay.
"There was a strong sense around the table on the need
for a (U.N.) resolution as soon as possible," NATO
spokesman James Appathurai told reporters. "Long
delays risk a lack of clarity, risk fostering
instability," he added.
The alliance is on alert for ethnic tensions caused by
the report and wants to ensure it is not caught
napping by any new violence in Kosovo, as it was in
March 2004 during two days of rioting by ethnic
Albanian mobs.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Hamilton and Mark
John)
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1252100.php/NATO_backs_Ahtisaaris_Kosovo_plan
Deutsche Presse-Agentur - January 26, 2007
NATO backs Ahtisaari's Kosovo plan
Brussels - NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer on Friday underlined the 26-nation alliance's
backing for a Kosovo final status plan due to be
unveiled by Martti Ahtisaari, the United Nations
special envoy.
Scheffer said NATO would continue to play 'a full
role' in Kosovo after a settlement on the territory's
political future. There are currently 16,500 NATO
troops serving as peacekeepers in Kosovo.
Following a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in
Brussels, the alliance chief said Ahtisaari could
count on the full support of NATO governments.
He said the question of Kosovo's final status needed
to be resolved as swiftly as possible and called for
bolstering NATO and European Union cooperation in the
coming months.
'What is important is that after a settlement,
everybody knows what they are supposed to do,' said
Scheffer.
NATO troops have been in Kosovo since 1999 when they
fought a war with Serbia....
Since then, Kosovo has been under UN administration.
Ahtisaari on Friday presented his plan behind closed
doors in Vienna to the so-called 'contact group' on
Kosovo which includes the United States, Russia,
Britain, France, Germany and Italy.
The plan, which is due to be made public early next
month, is expected to give Kosovo a limited form of
independence. Serbia, which is backed by Russia,
firmly opposes an independent Kosovo as demanded by
Albanian Kosovars.
KOSOVO: AHTISAARI PRESENTA PIANO A GRUPPO CONTATTO
(ANSA) - VIENNA, 26 GEN - Il negoziatore dell'Onu Martti Ahtisaari
presenta oggi a Vienna ai rappresentanti del Gruppo di Contatto (Usa,
Russia, Germania, Gran Bretagna, Italia, Francia) il suo piano sul
futuro status del Kosovo, la provincia serba a maggioranza albanese
amministrata dal 1999 dall'Onu (Unmik). La riunione si tiene in un
luogo segreto e il piano non sara' ufficialmente reso pubblico. Le
proposte in esso contenute saranno consegnate oggi solo agli emissari
del Gruppo di Contatto (direttori degli uffici dell'Europa sud
orientale nei rispettivi ministeri degli esteri) per essere poi
presentate ufficialmente al pubblico il 2 febbraio dallo stesso
Ahtisaari. In tale data l'ex presidente finlandese presentera' il suo
piano per una soluzione del Kosovo a Belgrado e Pristina. Secondo
ipotesi che circolano a Vienna, il piano potrebbe prevedere una sorta
di indipendenza ''controllata'' o ''condizionata'' per il Kosovo. Dopo
la presentazione del piano sono previsti i commenti dalle due capitali
e non si escludono neanche ulteriori negoziati delle parti a Vienna.
Solo successivamente Ahtisaari presentera' le sue proposte definitive
sul futuro status del Kosovo al Consiglio di sicurezza dell'Onu. I
punti di vista sono diametralmente opposti: mentre Pristina vede
nell'indipendenza il solo principio accettabile, Belgrado insiste per
una permanenza del Kosovo nel suo terrotorio e offre in cambio
un'ampia autonomia. (ANSA). BUS
26/01/2007 12:01
KOSOVO: NATO; MINISTRI APPOGGIANO PIANO AHTISAARI
(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 26 gen - I ministri degli Esteri della Nato hanno
appoggiato oggi all'unanimita' il piano che verra' presentato
dall'inviato speciale dell'Onu, Marrti Ahtisaari sullo statuto del
Kosovo. Lo ha dichiarato oggi il portavoce generale della Nato a
margine della riunione dei ministri degli Esteri dell'Alleanza in
corso a Bruxelles. I ministri ''hanno espresso un forte senso di
unita' nel sostenere la proposta di Ahtisaari'', ha dichiarato il
portavoce. A quanto si e' appreso, i ministri degli Esteri non hanno
discusso la proposta nel dettaglio, ''ma hanno espresso un appoggio
unanime ai contenuti del documento'', ha concluso.(ANSA). CB/ARS
26/01/2007 14:04
KOSOVO: GRUPPO CONTATTO, PIANO A FINE MARZO A CONSIGLIO ONU
(ANSA) - VIENNA, 26 GEN - Il piano per una soluzione giuridica dello
status del Kosovo, presentato oggi a Vienna dal negoziatore Onu sul
Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, ai rappresentanti del Gruppo di Contatto,
arrivera' a fine marzo all'attenzione del Consiglio di sicurezza delle
Nazioni Unite. ''E' una data realistica'', ha dichiarato in chiusura
dell' incontro il portavoce di Ahtisaari, Remy Dourlot. I colloqui nel
piu' importante organo dell'Onu potrebbero ''quindi cominciare dopo
qualche settimana, dopo la fine dei lavori di traduzione'', ha
aggiunto. L'incontro odierno si e' svolto a porte chiuse ed e' durato
un paio di ore. Successivamente Ahtisaari e il suo vice, il
diplomatico austriaco Albert Rohan, sono andati via, come del resto
preannunciato, senza illustrare il piano alla stampa. La consegna
ufficiale del piano alle parti Ahtisaari la fara' a Belgrado e
Pristina fra una settimana, il 2 febbraio. E' stato un ''incontro
regolare'', si e' limitaro a dire in un breve commento in chiusura
all'agenzia Apa. E' stato ''molto buono e positivo'', ha aggiunto
Rohan. (ANSA). BUS
26/01/2007 14:58
KOSOVO: PREMIER CEKU CONTRO PROPOSTA RINVIO RUSSA
(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 26 GEN - Il premier albanese del Kosovo Agim Ceku
si e' detto oggi contrario alla proposta avanzata dalla Russia
all'interno del Gruppo di Contatto di rinviare ogni decisione sullo
status della provincia fino alla formazione del nuovo governo a
Belgrado. ''Non c'e' la necessita' di nessun rinvio'' ha dichiarato
Ceku ai giornalisti. Secondo il premier anche gli altri paesi del
Gruppo di Contatto (di cui fa parte pure l'Italia) e che oggi hanno
ricevuto il piano presentato dal negoziatore Onu Martti Ahtisaari, gli
avrebbero in precedenza assicurato che non ci sarebbe stato nessun
ulteriore rinvio. La comunita' internazionale aveva promesso la
definizione dello status del Kosovo entro la fine del 2006, una data
poi fatta slittare per consentire lo svolgimento delle elezioni
politiche in Serbia, tenute lo scorso 21 gennaio. (ANSA) BLL-COR
26/01/2007 15:28
KOSOVO: PREMIER CEKU CONTRO PROPOSTA RINVIO RUSSA (2)
(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 26 GEN - ''Noi siamo pronti a presentare, difendere
e rispettare solo la volonta' del popolo del Kosovo - ha aggiunto il
premier Agim Ceku - quindi non c'e' nessuna ragione per rinviare il
processo e faremo di tutto perche' questo rinvio non avvenga''. Ceku
si e' invece rifiutato di commentare indiscrezioni di stampa trapelate
sin da ieri sul contenuto delle proposte del negoziatore Onu Martti
Ahtisaari, e che a parere di alcuni osservatori deluderebbero in parte
le aspettative degli albanesi per una immediata e piena indipendenza
del Kosovo. ''Noi dobbiamo aspettare il 2 febbraio quando riceveremo
direttamente dalle mani di Ahtisaari la proposta - ha commentato il
premier - e solo a quel punto potremo considerarla quella ufficiale.
Ma noi non abbiamo dubbi, e credo che nessuno possa avere dubbi, che
il Kosovo sara' indipendente, e non ho dubbi neppure che quando
Ahtisaari andra' davanti al Consiglio di sicurezza delle Nazioni
proporra' la nostra indipendenza''. (ANSA) BLL-COR
26/01/2007 16:51
KOSOVO: PIANO SULLO STATUS, ANTICIPAZIONI PUNTI PRINCIPALI
(ANSA-REUTERS) - VIENNA, 26 gen - L'inviato speciale dell'Onu Martti
Ahtisaari ha presentato oggi a Vienna al Gruppo di contatto il piano
sullo status del Kosovo. Di seguito i punti principali, a quanto
appreso dalla Reuters: - Il Kosovo avra' diritto a entrare nei
trattati internazionali e chiedere di fare parte di organizzazioni e
istituzioni internazionali, incluse potenzialmente le Nazioni Unite,
il Fondo Monetario Internazionale e la Banca Mondiale. - I Kosovari
avranno diritto alla 'doppia-cittadinanza' e si esorta Pristina a
stabilire buoni rapporti con la Serbia e gli altri Stati confinanti. -
Il Kosovo si prendera' la propria parte di beni economici, e debiti,
che erano della ex Yugoslavia e della Serbia. - I 100.000 serbi
rimasti in Kosovo avranno diritto ad un ampio auto-governo, a un
considerevole controllo sulla gestione della polizia locale e avranno
diritto ad alcuni legami diretti con Belgrado. - La Serbia potra'
finanziare le aree serbe, a patto che il denaro passi attraverso
Pristina. - I siti piu' antichi e di maggior pregio della religione
serbo ortodossa saranno protetti. - La NATO lascera' inalterato il
numero delle truppe, 16.500, fino al 2008. - Il piano, frutto di oltre
un anno di diplomazia e di dialogo serbo-albanese, necessita di una
nuova risoluzione Onu per entrare in vigore. Ahtisaari deve
assicurarsi l'appoggio del Gruppo di Contatto ( Usa, Gran Bretagna,
Francia, Italia, Germania e Russia) prima di renderlo
pubblico.(ANSA-REUTERS) I05
26/01/2007 17:33
KOSOVO: UE INCASSA NUOVO NO SERBO A INDIPENDENZA / ANSA
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 26 GEN - No a ''qualsivoglia forma di indipendenza
... del Kosovo'' e nessun ''piano B'' oltre l'offerta di una sia pur
larga autonomia. Resta rigida, almeno nelle dichiarazioni ufficiali,
la posizione della Serbia sul futuro status della provincia
secessionista a maggioranza albanese del Kosovo, nel giorno della
presentazione a porte chiuse di un piano delineato dal mediatore
dell'Onu Martti Ahtisaari per cercare di superare l'impasse.
Consegnate a Vienna a rappresentanti dei Paesi del Gruppo di Contatto
per i Balcani (Usa, Russia, Francia, Germania, Gran Bretagna e
Italia), le proposte di Ahtisaari saranno rese pubbliche a Pristina e
a Belgrado solo il 2 febbraio. Ma le indiscrezioni che lo anticipano
come un esercizio di acrobazia diplomatica (laddove la prospettiva di
un Kosovo indipendente, per quanto a sovranita' limitata, viene
evocata senza essere menzionata esplicitamente) accendono gia'
reazioni. A Belgrado, per sondare la situazione a pochi giorni dalle
elezioni politiche serbe, e' giunta una delegazione europea composta
dai direttori degli affari politici dei dicasteri degli esteri tedesco
e portoghese e dal loro omologo nella Commissione di Bruxelles.
Delegazione che ha incontrato il presidente della repubblica, il
liberal-riformista Boris Tadic, e il premier uscente, il
nazional-centrista Vojislav Kostunica: i due protagonisti principali
delle consultazioni appena avviate per la formazione di un governo di
coalizione tra le forze moderate e dichiaratamente filo-europee finite
alle spalle dell'opposizione ultranazionalista del Partito radicale
nel voto di domenica, ma forti comunque di una teorica maggioranza
assoluta in parlamento a patto di allearsi e superare le rivalita'. A
tal proposito, Tadic ha rassicurato gli ospiti di voler fare ogni
sforzo per trovare le intese necessarie a dar vita a un esecutivo
deciso ''ad andare avanti nel cammino di integrazione euroatlantica''
intrapreso dalla Serbia del dopo-Milosevic. Ma resta il fatto che
anche questo ipotetico futuro governo non sembra destinato a
discostarsi dalla trincea di una strenua resistenza alle altrettanto
inflessibili pretese indipendentiste albanesi sullo spinoso dossier
kosovaro. Tanto piu' se, come appare inevitabile, restera' determinate
il ruolo del partito del coriaceo primo ministro in carica Kostunica,
convinto piu' che mai di poter contare sul sostegno russo in sede Onu.
Non e' un caso che proprio uno degli uomini piu' vicini al premier, il
ministro dell'economia, Predrag Bubalo, si sia affrettato ad avvertire
in queste stesse ore che non esiste alcun ''piano B'' in grado di
mettere in discussione la rivendicazione sull' inalienabilita' del
Kosovo - simbolo secolare dell' epos nazionale serbo - inserita in
tono solenne nel preambolo della Costituzione postjugoslava del 2006.
Un concetto ripreso in termini analoghi dalla nota ufficiale diffusa
dal ministero degli esteri di Belgrado a margine dei colloqui con la
troika: ''Qualsivoglia forma di indipendenza internazionale del Kosovo
imposta alla Serbia - vi si legge - costituirebbe una violenta
alterazione dei confini riconosciuti di uno Stato membro dell'Onu. E
anche un atto di violenza nei confronti della Carta delle Nazioni
Unite''. (ANSA). LR
26/01/2007 17:50
KOSOVO: GRUPPO CONTATTO, AHTISAARI PRESENTA PIANO/ANSA
(di Flaminia Bussotti) (ANSA) - VIENNA, 26 GEN - L'inviato speciale
delle Nazioni Unite per il Kosovo, l'ex presidente finlandese Martti
Ahtisaari, ha presentato oggi in una riunione a porte chiuse a Vienna
con il Gruppo di Contatto, il suo piano sullo statuto della provincia
meridionale serba a maggioranza albanese amministrata dal '99 dall'Onu
(Unmik). Nessuna dichiarazione ufficiale sul documento fino alla sua
presentazione formale fra una settimana, il 2 febbraio, quando
Ahtisaari lo illustrera' a Belgrado e a Pristina. Da indiscrezioni in
margine alla riunione di Vienna e' emerso pero' un generale consenso
da parte dei rappresentanti occidentali nel Gruppo di Contatto (Usa,
Gran Bretagna, Francia, Italia, Germania) mentre la Russia, che nel
negoziato fa l'avvocato della Serbia, preferirebbe aspettare
l'insediamento a Belgrado di un governo con pienezza di poteri.
L'ufficio del negoziatore Ahtisaari a Vienna (Unosek) ha confermato
tuttavia che il calendario non subira' ritardi a causa
dell'insediamento del nuovo governo in Serbia. Il portavoce Remi
Dourlot ha precisato che il prossimo passo sara' la consegna del
documento alle rispettive parti il 2 febbraio cui potranno seguire
nuovi round di negoziato a Vienna. A fine marzo, ha aggiunto, e'
''realistico prevedere'' che il documento sara' presentato al
Consiglio di sicurezza dell'Onu, dopodiche', qualche settimana dopo,
ultimati i lavori di traduzione, dovrebbero cominciare le
consultazioni per una risoluzione. Positiva anche l'accoglienza dei
ministri degli esteri della Nato durante una riunione oggi a
Bruxelles: il francese Philippe Douste-Blazy l'ha lodato perche'
''parte da un sano buon senso''. L'italiano Massimo D'Alema ha
auspicato da parte sua una soluzione negoziata per il Kosovo ammonendo
a non sottovalutare il rischio di una destabilizzazione dei Balcani.
Sempre secondo informazioni non confermate, il piano dovrebbe
prevedere per il futuro assetto giuridico del Kosovo una specie di
''indipendenza condizionata'' o ''supervisionata'' da parte della
comunita' internazionale. Una volta entrato in vigore il piano, la
presenza Unimik dovrebbe finire ed essere sostituita dall'Ue. Le
stesse indiscrezioni parlano della possibilita' di entrare negli
organismi internazionali, di una cittadinanza doppia per i kosovari e,
per converso, di un ampio auto-governo per i 100 mila servi rimasti in
Kosovo. Sul nodo dell'indipendenza le posizioni fra le parti sono
diametralmente opposte: mentre Pristina considera irrinunciabile il
principio dell'indipendenza, Belgrado lo respinge categoricamente e
propone in alternativa un'ampia autonomia. In dichiarazioni
all'agenzia Apa, l'ambasciatore all'Onu austriaco, e esperto dei
Balcani, Wolfgang Petritsch, ha detto che il piano di Ahtisaari
''mettera' in moto un processo che portera' alla fine nel lungo
periodo alla sovranita' e all'indipendenza del Kosovo''. In
dichiarazioni al termine dei colloqui a Vienna, durata circa due ore,
Ahtisaari si e' limitato a dire che si e' trattato di una ''riunione
regolare'' mentre il suo vice Albert Rohan ha partlato di ''un
incontro molto buono e positivo. ''E' stata una riunione difficile'',
ha dichiarato invece un diplomatico alla Reuters. Secondo la stessa
agenzia la Russia sarebbe ''molto scettica''. In prime reazioni alla
presentazione del piano, il premier serbo Vojislav Kostunica ha
annunciato che non ricevera' Ahtisaari quando lo presentera' il 2
febbraio a Belgrado: l'incontro non rientra nelle competenze del
governo uscente, ha fatto sapere riferendosi alle elezioni
parlamentari svoltesi domenica scorsa in Serbia. Il presidente serbo
Boris Tadic pare invece che ''probabilmente'' lo ricevera'. (ANSA). BUS
26/01/2007 18:36
http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n104279
Focus News Agency (Bulgaria) - January 26, 2007
Division of Kosovo is Possible, But This Would Mean a
New War: Kosovo MP
Pristina - It is possible to achieve a division of
Kosovo, but this would mean a new war in Kosovo and in
the Balkans, Nain Hasani, from the Democratic Party of
Kosovo [KLA's Hashim Thaci], said in an interview for
Kosova Press.
According to the interview, Hasani has expressed doubt
that the final stature of Kosovo would be determined
in accordance to the will of the majority of people in
the area.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/1bd7ea66-ac19-11db-a0ed-0000779e2340.html
Financial Times - January 27, 2007
Kosovo: it's not too late to reconsider partition
By Prof Margaret Blunden
Sir, Your editorial "Serbia's chance" (January 23)
suggests that if Serbia is to be persuaded to hold in
check hostility to the prospective independence of
Kosovo, it should be offered in return rapid progress
towards a European Union association deal and future
EU membership.
This alone is an inadequate, and possibly improper,
inducement to Belgrade to abandon the Serbs remaining
in the province, living in fortified enclaves and
separated from the Albanian majority by a wall of
hostility.
The tense political conditions in Kosovo offer no
serious prospects of creating an independent,
harmonious multi-ethnic state. It is not too late for
the international community to reconsider its
categoric opposition to partition. Northern Kosovo,
from the Ibar river to the boundary with Serbia
proper, about 15 per cent of the province and where
the majority of Serbs live, should be allowed to unite
with Serbia.
This is not merely an obvious, face-saving compromise
solution as far as Belgrade is concerned. It would
provide some justice for the much-abused Serbian
minority in Kosovo, avoid a further flood of refugees,
and minimise further bloodshed in an area determined
to retain its links with Belgrade.
Of course, partition would mean breaching the
principle of resisting the break-up of states along
ethnic lines, to which the international community
says it is committed. But then, so was allowing the
former Yugoslavia to disintegrate in the first place.
Margaret Blunden,
London W1G 9PW
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-01/26/content_5659508.htm
Xinhua News Agency - January 26, 2007
Backgrounder: The status of Kosovo
BEIJING - Representatives from the United Nations
(U.N.) and the Contact Group members of Britain,
France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States
met on Friday in Vienna, to discuss the future status
of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo.
The following are some basic facts about Kosovo's
status:
Kosovo, with a population of 2 million people of which
more than 90 percent are ethnic Albanians and about 7
percent Serb, was a southern autonomous province
within Serbia before the breakup of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. It was bordered by Albania and
Macedonia to the south.
Under the 1974 Yugoslav constitution, Kosovo enjoyed
autonomous province status within Serbia. The ethnic
Albanian majority, however, has been pursuing the
independence of Kosovo and resorting to violence.
In 1989, the Serbian authorities altered Kosovo's
status and removed its autonomy, igniting strong
opposition from ethnic Albanians. Tensions between
ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs were worsened.
In 1992, the Yugoslav Federation disintegrated. The
Serb-dominated Yugoslav parliament approved a
constitution for a new state comprising only Serbia
and Montenegro, and proclaimed the creation of the new
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Meanwhile, the Albanian majority in Kosovo announced
the founding of an independent "Kosovo Republic,"
which was not recognized by the international
community. Kosovo was sinking into the mire of
turbulence.
On March 24, 1999, without the approval of the United
Nations (U.N.), NATO launched airstrikes against the
Yugoslav Federation under the pretext of preventing a
"humanitarian crises" in the region, and the Kosovo
war erupted.
On June 9, 1999, Yugoslavia and NATO signed a military
technical agreement on the withdrawal of Serb troops
from Kosovo.
On June 20, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana
announced the formal end of NATO air strikes against
Yugoslavia. And Kosovo has been administered by the
U.N. ever since.
In 2003, the Yugoslav parliament passed a new
constitutional charter, dissolving Yugoslavia and
creating a country named "Serbia and Montenegro."
Serbia, however, hoped to retain sovereignty over
Kosovo while ethnic Albanians demanded its fully
independent status rather than the "maximum autonomy"
Serbian President Boris Tadic had proposed.
In November 2005, negotiations on the future status of
Kosovo were officially launched.
On Feb. 20, 2006, Serbs and Kosovo Albanians sat down
at the same table in Vienna for the first round of
talks on the future of Kosovo.
They have since held eight rounds of technical
discussions in Vienna, but made no substantive
progress due to their divisions on a wide range of
issues, including decentralization and measures to
protect the Serb minority's rights in Kosovo.
(4 -- fine)
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=01&dd=25&nav_category=92&nav_id=39244
B92 (Serbia) - January 25, 2007
Word 'independence' out of Resolution
STRASBOURG, BELGRADE, PRIŠTINA - The Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a
resolution on Kosovo yesterday.
The paragraph stating that only independence for
Kosovo can ensure stability in the region was erased
from the text of the resolution on Kosovo yesterday.
The Resolution was adopted with 99 votes in favor, 36
against and 14 in abstention.
The final text of the resolution does not contain the
word `independence'. The part stating that all
interested parties in the region are obliged not to
demand the alteration of borders and to accept current
Kosovo borders as permanent was also erased.
The resolution maintains that the only viable and
undisputable solution is to reach a mutual agreement
from both sides. However, the Council of Europe
asserts that the decision to impose a solution should
be reached if negotiations come to a dead-end.
The resolution calls on Kosovo Serbs to take part in
the social and political life in Kosovo.
Serbian delegation Chief Miloš Aligrudić said
that the delegation members voted against the
resolution as a matter of principle.
"A few of the amendments we suggested, demanding that
the CoE (Council of Europe) Parliamentary Assembly
accept the reality that Kosovo is an integral part of
Serbia as is given in the UN Resolution 1244, did not
pass. Our amendment to erase the part which mentions
the possibility of an imposed solution also lacked
support. That's why we could not vote in favor of the
resolution", Aligrudić said.
The Parliamentary Assembly also adopted a
recommendation to offer strong support to Serbia as it
is going through a very delicate political phase.
Janjić: Defensive position is never good
The head of the Forum for Ethnic Relations thinks that
Russia played a key part in adopting the Resolution
with the word `independence' erased from the text.
Janjić deemed positive the fact that the Council
of Europe did not accept a formulation that would
shape the solution in advance and cause difficulties
during the next stage.
"We shouldn't have come into this kind of situation
where we are compelled to act defensively. Serbia
should have initiated a resolution to elaborate on the
human rights of both Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo,
and create a dialogue to see whether the independence,
advocated by many, could actually solve current
problems. The majority members of the Council of
Europe did not take it for granted that independence
could remove all problems from Kosovo, as if it were a
magic wand", Janjić concluded.
Priština still silent
No one is Priština has reacted to the Resolution so
far. On the contrary, all Albanian politicians who
addressed the public maintained that independence for
Kosovo is the only possible solution.
Even though Marti Ahtisaari's visit to Priština is ten
days off, official Priština only expects independence,
possibly explaining the decision by Kosovo politicians
to not assign much importance to the resolution
adopted yesterday.
The media in Kosovo have thus left to appease the
public.
They have maintained that, even though the word
independence was omitted form the text, the Resolution
itself does not exclude the mere possibility of
independence.
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1282_january_25_2007/n_1282_1.htm
The Messenger (Georgia) - January 25, 2007
Putin stresses Serbian integrity, reaffirms Kosovo precedent
By David Matsaberidze
On January 21 Russian President Vladimir Putin
reiterated his view that the final status of the
disputed Serbian region of Kosovo should serve as a
model for conflict resolution across the former Soviet
Union.
"The problem of Kosovo bears a universal character,
thus it can serve as a basis and precedent for
conflict settlement of post-Soviet ethnic clashes and
disturbances in entire CIS space," Putin declared at a
joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Putin stressed the importance of the recognition of
the rights of ethnic minorities to self determination,
and pointed to the apparent contradiction in
international law between that right and the principle
of territorial integrity.
The fact that the majority of the international
community is in favour of independence for the mainly
Albanian populated province of Kosovo against the
wishes of Serbia "gives the right to other ethnic
minorities to declare: we are in favour of the Serbian
model as a tool of conflict regulation," asserted
Putin, as quoted by Civil Georgia.
However, Putin's insistence on the 'Kosovo precedent'
could stem from Russia's firm commitment to Serbian
integrity, rather than encouragement to separatist
movements in the Georgia and Moldova.
In a telephone conversation with Serbian Prime
Minister Vojislav Kostunica later that day, Putin
confirmed that he was against any settlement on Kosovo
not backed by Serbia proper, Eurasia Daily Monitor
reported.
Putin implied that any status plan not backed by
Belgrade would be vetoed by the United Nations
Security Council, and that the solution must stem from
the principle of territorial integrity.
Georgian experts are divided on Russia's intentions
over the Kosovo issue.
....
Security expert Temur Iakobashvili says that by
stressing the idea of Kosovo as a precedent Russia is
"targeting western countries, rather than threatening
Georgia."
---
http://www.b92.net/eng/insight/opinions.php?nav_id=39202
B92 (Serbia) -- January 22, 2007
America's Kosovo Dilemma
William Montgomery
While the European Union, as well as other European
countries shared U.S. concerns over the treatment of
Kosovo Albanians by the Milošević regime, the
United States was the driving force behind Western
diplomatic activity regarding Kosovo over the past
fifteen years.
In December, 1992 we unilaterally issued the famous
"Christmas warning" to Milošević that any
provocations by his government which caused major
violence in Kosovo would be answered even by military
force.
Envoys such as Robert Gelbard, Richard Holbrooke, Bill
Walker and Chris Hill were prominent in negotiating
with the Serbian government and pressing it to improve
the human rights situation in Kosovo.
It was Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who took
the lead in pressing the case for NATO bombing and
NATO Supreme Commander Wesley Clark that carried it
out.
By the time that UNMIK and KFOR arrived in Kosovo in
1999, certain opinions were locked in stone. Nothing
that has taken place over the past seven years,
including the fall of Milošević and the
democratic transition in Serbia has changed them.
First of all, virtually every Kosovo Albanian is
passionately determined to be irrevocably separated
from Serbia and to have full independence. A
significant number are willing to resort once again to
violence, if necessary, to bring it about.
Secondly, the Kosovo Albanians are grateful to the
United States for its role thus far and more
importantly, because they believe it is the United
States that will ensure that independence in the near
future.
The United States consequently has a stature and
credibility with Kosovo Albanians that no other
country has. Like many in the Balkans, the Kosovo
Albanians are skeptical about the strength and
determination of the European Union.
Finally, there are concrete reasons why this bond with
Americans remains so strong. Namely, it is difficult
to find any influential official, policy maker, or
independent foreign affairs specialist in the United
States who has not publicly or privately indicated
that independence for Kosovo within current borders is
the only possible outcome. Most made no secret of
their views.
Richard Holbrooke in a 2003 visit to Belgrade bluntly
told Serbian leaders that they would have to "choose
between Kosovo and Europe and that if you chose
Kosovo, you will get neither."
The International Crisis Group, various Senators and
Congressmen, and other non-governmental groups have
been equally direct in pressing the case for
independence.
The United States has also been in the forefront of
pressing for resolution of the final status question
quickly, in large part so that the overwhelming
majority of our troops in the Balkans could be
withdrawn.
The European Union members of the Contact Group have
endorsed the scenario of conditional independence for
Kosovo under the supervision of the European Union.
Several months ago they placed the vanguard of their
transitional team in Kosovo with the idea that
following the necessary UN Resolution, the European
Union would replace UNMIK. They have already
delineated the functions that they would perform and
supervise.
While the Serbian political leadership disappointed
the Western members of the Contact Group because of
their unwillingness to either accept this outcome or
to prepare its population for it, this in no way ever
led to any reconsideration by the EU or the United
States about the final status.
The growing strength of the Radicals did sufficiently
concern the West so that they made some accommodations
to Serbia (postponing the date of the final status
recommendations until after the Serbian elections,
admitting Serbia to Partnership for Peace, and
announcing that a fresh look will be taken by the EU
on the visa regime for Serbia).
What has dramatically changed the entire equation is
the growing realization that Russia is likely to
prevent any UN Security Council Resolution which
contains elements unacceptable to Serbia. This has now
been made publicly clear both by President Putin and
Foreign Minister Lavrov.
The latter was just quoted as saying that any solution
had to be acceptable to both Pristina and Belgrade and
that "There can be no imposed solutions."
The reality is that the "correlation of forces" in the
world has changed dramatically since the 1999 Kosovo
Bombing Campaign and the UN Security Council
Resolution 1244 which was passed in its immediate
aftermath.
Now, an assertive Russia is looking for ways to show
its strength and independence. The Kosovo issue is an
easy way to demonstrate it. Given the public comments
now made, it is hard to see how Russia can change
course without losing face.
The United States and some EU members are continuing
to push for resolution of final status in the next few
months with conditional independence as the outcome.
They are still hoping that in negotiations over the
Security Council Resolution, they will be able to
secure wording which will be ambiguous, but sufficient
to then move rapidly to conditional independence.
This remains the U.S. position, strongly supported by
all of the influential foreign policy players in the
United States mentioned above. In other words, the
U.S. Administration is pressed by its domestic
constituency to continue to pursue an option which
looks unlikely to succeed.
The United States is thus faced first of all with the
problem of keeping increasingly skeptical Europeans on
board for this solution while figuring out how to
bring Russia along. It will require very "heavy
lifting" on the part of the United States with Russia
and the EU will be of little help in this process.
Russian intransigence could well lead to the following
scenarios:
a. The potential for no UN Resolution at all. While
the EU is already considering pushing for a simple
resolution strictly limited to permitting it to take
over in Kosovo from the UN, there is absolutely no
guarantee that the Russians will allow even that. They
may well insist on adding language to that resolution
which makes coming to closure on Kosovo far harder
than it already is.
Many Europeans have privately stated their
unwillingness to move into Kosovo to replace UNMIK
without a UN Resolution authorizing it. If they do
not, Kosovo will be left with a depleted, demoralized
UNMIK for the foreseeable future.
Many of its best cadre has already secured new
positions and its authority has diminished due to its
lame duck status. This would leave Kosovo virtually in
limbo. It could also mean that the U.S. objective of
withdrawing its troops from the Balkans could be
frustrated.
b. The virtual certainty of a dramatic rise in
violence in this year, instigated at least initially
by Kosovo Albanian extremists.
The only question is where it will be directed.
Initial targets may well be the Serbian minority and
UNMIK. But it is not to be ruled out that in their
bitter disappointment over the lack of movement on
independence, even the U.S. forces may become a
target. This would be the Bush Administration's worst
nightmare. In any case, KFOR will not be able to
prevent this upsurge of violence and its consequences
can be severe.
c. There is also the possibility of a split between
the European Union and the United States. This could
happen in two ways. The first is EU willingness to
accept wording from the Russians in a Resolution which
is unacceptable to the United States. The second is
European unwillingness to circumvent the UN. It is
obvious that many Europeans do not feel the same
urgency about Kosovo as does the United States.
By our nature, by our focus on events in Iraq and
Afghanistan (and the shortage of troops for those
areas), and due to our domestic constituency, the
United States will be determined to bring the Kosovo
issue to closure. The natural tendency of the European
Union when faced with this sort of controversy is to
delay, to put off decision-making. It is easy to
imagine the United States pressing for action outside
of the UN and the EU resisting such a step.
Moreover, if the United States feels that the EU is
backing away from possible solutions or is willing to
endorse unacceptable ones, it can always threaten to
exercise the option of simply washing its hands of
Kosovo and walking away. As unlikely as this may seem,
the EU and others will be making a big mistake if they
disregard this possibility.
---
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2511
Interfax-Religion - January 25, 2007
PACE drops independence recommendation from Kosovo
resolution
Strasbourg - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE) has decided to refrain from any
specific recommendations on the status of Kosovo.
During the debate on the draft resolution on the
current situation in Kosovo a key provision earlier
resisted by many, primarily the Russian delegation,
was dropped by 90 votes against 64, with 11
abstentions.
The provision read as follows: "While respecting
Serbia's interest and right to preserve its
territorial integrity, the Assembly believes that
Kosovo's independence - subject to certain conditions
- is the solution most likely to bring about durable,
long-term peace and stability for Kosovo and the
entire region, in addition to being the one which
corresponds to the will of the majority of Kosovars."
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/25/europe/EU-GEN-Armenia-Nagorno-Karabakh.php
Associated Press - January 25, 2007
Foreign mediators of Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute
diverge on Kosovo precedent
YEREVAN, Armenia - Foreign mediators trying to resolve
a long-standing territorial dispute between Armenia
and Azerbaijan voiced optimism, but appeared to
diverge Thursday on whether the resolution of Kosovo's
final status would be a firm precedent.
Diplomats from Russia, France and the United States
have headed efforts by the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe's so-called Minsk Group to
resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
The mountainous territory inside Azerbaijan has been
controlled by ethnic Armenian forces since the early
1990s, and tensions remain high between Armenia and
Azerbaijan.
In Kosovo, Russia backs demands by the Serbian
leadership that it should stay part of Serbia while
the United States favors independence for the
province.
President Vladimir Putin has suggested that should
Kosovo be granted independence, that would have a
direct effect on how other lingering separatist
disputes in the former Soviet Union are resolved.
Chief U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari plans to disclose
recommendations on Kosovo's future to Western
governments and Russia on Friday.
Following a visit Thursday to Stepanakert, the capital
of Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian diplomat Yuri Merzlyakov
said Kosovo's final status would be a precedent for
the Armenia-Azerbaijani dispute.
"I consider naturally that it will set a precedent.
The decision could be one thing or another because the
talk is about the status of autonomy for a province in
Kosovo. Naturally, there could be other opinions," he
said.
Diplomats from the United States and France disagreed.
"There isn't any sort of universal precedent and each
situation, every conflict differs from every other
conflict," said Matthew J. Bryza,, a U.S. deputy
assistant secretary of state.
"Each conflict has its own difficulties and it's
necessary to resolve conflicts on the basis of the
particular aspects that each has," said French
diplomat Bernard Fassier.
A shaky cease-fire in 1994 ended six years of fighting
in Nagorno-Karabakh that left 30,000 people killed and
about 1 million driven from their homes and left
Karabakh and Armenian forces in control of the
territory. Gunfire breaks out regularly along the
border between the two ex-Soviet countries and in the
regions near Nagorno-Karabakh.
The lack of resolution of the territory's status has
tied up development in the energy-rich South Caucasus.
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/#5158693
Radio Netherlands - January 26, 2007
Russia sceptical of Kosovo plan
Russia has voiced scepticism about UN mediator Martti
Ahtisaari's plan for the future of the Serbian
province of Kosovo. The main details of the plan have
leaked out ahead of its official announcement.
It proposes self-determination for Kosovo under
international control and a continued NATO presence in
the short term.
The safety of the province's Serb minority remains a
primary concern. The report avoids explicit reference
to independence, something Serbia strongly opposes.
The European Union and Kosovo itself are in favour of
independence.
The plan has now been put to the Contact Group of
Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, the United
States and Russia and will be presented to Serbia and
Kosovo on 2 February.
Depending on the response, the plan will then be
submitted to the UN for a definitive decision by the
Security Council.
Kosovo came under international control after a NATO
air campaign drove Serbian troops from the province in
1999.
http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Russia_and_West_divided_on_U_N_Kosovo_plan.html?siteSect=143&sid=7469056&cKey=1169820555000
Reuters - January 26, 2007
Russia and West divided on U.N. Kosovo plan
By Matt Robinson
VIENNA - Russia is sceptical about a plan by United
Nations envoy Martti Ahtisaari that would give
Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo virtual
independence, a diplomat told Reuters on Friday.
After a meeting in Vienna with the six-member Contact
Group of major powers, the diplomat said Russia had
urged a delay in any U.N. decision on Kosovo until
Serbia had formed a new government following an
inconclusive general election on Jan 21.
"It was a very tough meeting. The Russians are very
sceptical about the plan," said the senior diplomat,
who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"I have never seen the Quint (United States, Britain,
France, Germany and Italy) more united."
Ahtisaari's official spokesman Remi Dourlot told
reporters after the meeting the envoy would travel to
Belgrade and Pristina as planned on February 2 to
present his proposal to officials.
The Contact Group has set policy on Kosovo since the
U.N. took control of the 90-percent ethnic Albanian
province in 1999.
Ahtisaari drafted his plan after more than a year of
shuttle diplomacy and fruitless Serb-Albanian talks.
Diplomatic sources said the Vienna meeting was
intended to be the last step before he presented his
blueprint to officials next Friday.
Ahtisaari is instructed to hold further talks with
Serbs and Albanians in coming weeks, but diplomats
have told Reuters this would be merely finetunning
details of the plan.
Eight years after NATO drove out Serb forces accused
of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo while fighting Albanian
separatists, Kosovo's Albanians demand nothing less
than full independence.
Belgrade is offering only far-reaching autonomy for a
territory it sees as the sacred cradle of the Serb
nation.
Diplomatic sources told Reuters this week the plan
would set Kosovo on the road to independence with
international supervision, giving it the right to
apply for membership of international organisations,
possibly including the U.N., the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
They said it would provide for a right to dual
citizenship, and urge Pristina to establish good
relations with Serbia, but contain no reference to
Serbian sovereignty.
LONG COALITION TALKS
Russia's insistence on waiting for a new government in
Belgrade could mean a delay of weeks or months.
Last weekend's general election in Serbia failed to
produce a clear majority and parties were preparing
for lengthy coalition talks.
The... Radical Party won 28 percent of the vote but
could find no partner that would give it a majority.
The pro-Western Democratic Party came second and is
looking for a deal with the party of moderate
nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and a
smaller liberal party.
Kostunica used increasingly hardline rhetoric during
his campaign and has said a common stance on Kosovo is
the key to a coalition deal. It is not clear how easy
it will be for him to agree with the Democrats on how
to handle the potential loss of the province.
Parties have until late May to agree on a coalition,
or a new election would have to be called.
After a meeting in Brussels, NATO, which keeps
16,000-plus peacekeepers in the province, also advised
against a delay.
"There was a strong sense around the table on the need
for a (U.N.) resolution as soon as possible," NATO
spokesman James Appathurai told reporters. "Long
delays risk a lack of clarity, risk fostering
instability," he added.
The alliance is on alert for ethnic tensions caused by
the report and wants to ensure it is not caught
napping by any new violence in Kosovo, as it was in
March 2004 during two days of rioting by ethnic
Albanian mobs.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Hamilton and Mark
John)
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1252100.php/NATO_backs_Ahtisaaris_Kosovo_plan
Deutsche Presse-Agentur - January 26, 2007
NATO backs Ahtisaari's Kosovo plan
Brussels - NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer on Friday underlined the 26-nation alliance's
backing for a Kosovo final status plan due to be
unveiled by Martti Ahtisaari, the United Nations
special envoy.
Scheffer said NATO would continue to play 'a full
role' in Kosovo after a settlement on the territory's
political future. There are currently 16,500 NATO
troops serving as peacekeepers in Kosovo.
Following a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in
Brussels, the alliance chief said Ahtisaari could
count on the full support of NATO governments.
He said the question of Kosovo's final status needed
to be resolved as swiftly as possible and called for
bolstering NATO and European Union cooperation in the
coming months.
'What is important is that after a settlement,
everybody knows what they are supposed to do,' said
Scheffer.
NATO troops have been in Kosovo since 1999 when they
fought a war with Serbia....
Since then, Kosovo has been under UN administration.
Ahtisaari on Friday presented his plan behind closed
doors in Vienna to the so-called 'contact group' on
Kosovo which includes the United States, Russia,
Britain, France, Germany and Italy.
The plan, which is due to be made public early next
month, is expected to give Kosovo a limited form of
independence. Serbia, which is backed by Russia,
firmly opposes an independent Kosovo as demanded by
Albanian Kosovars.
KOSOVO: AHTISAARI PRESENTA PIANO A GRUPPO CONTATTO
(ANSA) - VIENNA, 26 GEN - Il negoziatore dell'Onu Martti Ahtisaari
presenta oggi a Vienna ai rappresentanti del Gruppo di Contatto (Usa,
Russia, Germania, Gran Bretagna, Italia, Francia) il suo piano sul
futuro status del Kosovo, la provincia serba a maggioranza albanese
amministrata dal 1999 dall'Onu (Unmik). La riunione si tiene in un
luogo segreto e il piano non sara' ufficialmente reso pubblico. Le
proposte in esso contenute saranno consegnate oggi solo agli emissari
del Gruppo di Contatto (direttori degli uffici dell'Europa sud
orientale nei rispettivi ministeri degli esteri) per essere poi
presentate ufficialmente al pubblico il 2 febbraio dallo stesso
Ahtisaari. In tale data l'ex presidente finlandese presentera' il suo
piano per una soluzione del Kosovo a Belgrado e Pristina. Secondo
ipotesi che circolano a Vienna, il piano potrebbe prevedere una sorta
di indipendenza ''controllata'' o ''condizionata'' per il Kosovo. Dopo
la presentazione del piano sono previsti i commenti dalle due capitali
e non si escludono neanche ulteriori negoziati delle parti a Vienna.
Solo successivamente Ahtisaari presentera' le sue proposte definitive
sul futuro status del Kosovo al Consiglio di sicurezza dell'Onu. I
punti di vista sono diametralmente opposti: mentre Pristina vede
nell'indipendenza il solo principio accettabile, Belgrado insiste per
una permanenza del Kosovo nel suo terrotorio e offre in cambio
un'ampia autonomia. (ANSA). BUS
26/01/2007 12:01
KOSOVO: NATO; MINISTRI APPOGGIANO PIANO AHTISAARI
(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 26 gen - I ministri degli Esteri della Nato hanno
appoggiato oggi all'unanimita' il piano che verra' presentato
dall'inviato speciale dell'Onu, Marrti Ahtisaari sullo statuto del
Kosovo. Lo ha dichiarato oggi il portavoce generale della Nato a
margine della riunione dei ministri degli Esteri dell'Alleanza in
corso a Bruxelles. I ministri ''hanno espresso un forte senso di
unita' nel sostenere la proposta di Ahtisaari'', ha dichiarato il
portavoce. A quanto si e' appreso, i ministri degli Esteri non hanno
discusso la proposta nel dettaglio, ''ma hanno espresso un appoggio
unanime ai contenuti del documento'', ha concluso.(ANSA). CB/ARS
26/01/2007 14:04
KOSOVO: GRUPPO CONTATTO, PIANO A FINE MARZO A CONSIGLIO ONU
(ANSA) - VIENNA, 26 GEN - Il piano per una soluzione giuridica dello
status del Kosovo, presentato oggi a Vienna dal negoziatore Onu sul
Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, ai rappresentanti del Gruppo di Contatto,
arrivera' a fine marzo all'attenzione del Consiglio di sicurezza delle
Nazioni Unite. ''E' una data realistica'', ha dichiarato in chiusura
dell' incontro il portavoce di Ahtisaari, Remy Dourlot. I colloqui nel
piu' importante organo dell'Onu potrebbero ''quindi cominciare dopo
qualche settimana, dopo la fine dei lavori di traduzione'', ha
aggiunto. L'incontro odierno si e' svolto a porte chiuse ed e' durato
un paio di ore. Successivamente Ahtisaari e il suo vice, il
diplomatico austriaco Albert Rohan, sono andati via, come del resto
preannunciato, senza illustrare il piano alla stampa. La consegna
ufficiale del piano alle parti Ahtisaari la fara' a Belgrado e
Pristina fra una settimana, il 2 febbraio. E' stato un ''incontro
regolare'', si e' limitaro a dire in un breve commento in chiusura
all'agenzia Apa. E' stato ''molto buono e positivo'', ha aggiunto
Rohan. (ANSA). BUS
26/01/2007 14:58
KOSOVO: PREMIER CEKU CONTRO PROPOSTA RINVIO RUSSA
(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 26 GEN - Il premier albanese del Kosovo Agim Ceku
si e' detto oggi contrario alla proposta avanzata dalla Russia
all'interno del Gruppo di Contatto di rinviare ogni decisione sullo
status della provincia fino alla formazione del nuovo governo a
Belgrado. ''Non c'e' la necessita' di nessun rinvio'' ha dichiarato
Ceku ai giornalisti. Secondo il premier anche gli altri paesi del
Gruppo di Contatto (di cui fa parte pure l'Italia) e che oggi hanno
ricevuto il piano presentato dal negoziatore Onu Martti Ahtisaari, gli
avrebbero in precedenza assicurato che non ci sarebbe stato nessun
ulteriore rinvio. La comunita' internazionale aveva promesso la
definizione dello status del Kosovo entro la fine del 2006, una data
poi fatta slittare per consentire lo svolgimento delle elezioni
politiche in Serbia, tenute lo scorso 21 gennaio. (ANSA) BLL-COR
26/01/2007 15:28
KOSOVO: PREMIER CEKU CONTRO PROPOSTA RINVIO RUSSA (2)
(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 26 GEN - ''Noi siamo pronti a presentare, difendere
e rispettare solo la volonta' del popolo del Kosovo - ha aggiunto il
premier Agim Ceku - quindi non c'e' nessuna ragione per rinviare il
processo e faremo di tutto perche' questo rinvio non avvenga''. Ceku
si e' invece rifiutato di commentare indiscrezioni di stampa trapelate
sin da ieri sul contenuto delle proposte del negoziatore Onu Martti
Ahtisaari, e che a parere di alcuni osservatori deluderebbero in parte
le aspettative degli albanesi per una immediata e piena indipendenza
del Kosovo. ''Noi dobbiamo aspettare il 2 febbraio quando riceveremo
direttamente dalle mani di Ahtisaari la proposta - ha commentato il
premier - e solo a quel punto potremo considerarla quella ufficiale.
Ma noi non abbiamo dubbi, e credo che nessuno possa avere dubbi, che
il Kosovo sara' indipendente, e non ho dubbi neppure che quando
Ahtisaari andra' davanti al Consiglio di sicurezza delle Nazioni
proporra' la nostra indipendenza''. (ANSA) BLL-COR
26/01/2007 16:51
KOSOVO: PIANO SULLO STATUS, ANTICIPAZIONI PUNTI PRINCIPALI
(ANSA-REUTERS) - VIENNA, 26 gen - L'inviato speciale dell'Onu Martti
Ahtisaari ha presentato oggi a Vienna al Gruppo di contatto il piano
sullo status del Kosovo. Di seguito i punti principali, a quanto
appreso dalla Reuters: - Il Kosovo avra' diritto a entrare nei
trattati internazionali e chiedere di fare parte di organizzazioni e
istituzioni internazionali, incluse potenzialmente le Nazioni Unite,
il Fondo Monetario Internazionale e la Banca Mondiale. - I Kosovari
avranno diritto alla 'doppia-cittadinanza' e si esorta Pristina a
stabilire buoni rapporti con la Serbia e gli altri Stati confinanti. -
Il Kosovo si prendera' la propria parte di beni economici, e debiti,
che erano della ex Yugoslavia e della Serbia. - I 100.000 serbi
rimasti in Kosovo avranno diritto ad un ampio auto-governo, a un
considerevole controllo sulla gestione della polizia locale e avranno
diritto ad alcuni legami diretti con Belgrado. - La Serbia potra'
finanziare le aree serbe, a patto che il denaro passi attraverso
Pristina. - I siti piu' antichi e di maggior pregio della religione
serbo ortodossa saranno protetti. - La NATO lascera' inalterato il
numero delle truppe, 16.500, fino al 2008. - Il piano, frutto di oltre
un anno di diplomazia e di dialogo serbo-albanese, necessita di una
nuova risoluzione Onu per entrare in vigore. Ahtisaari deve
assicurarsi l'appoggio del Gruppo di Contatto ( Usa, Gran Bretagna,
Francia, Italia, Germania e Russia) prima di renderlo
pubblico.(ANSA-REUTERS) I05
26/01/2007 17:33
KOSOVO: UE INCASSA NUOVO NO SERBO A INDIPENDENZA / ANSA
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 26 GEN - No a ''qualsivoglia forma di indipendenza
... del Kosovo'' e nessun ''piano B'' oltre l'offerta di una sia pur
larga autonomia. Resta rigida, almeno nelle dichiarazioni ufficiali,
la posizione della Serbia sul futuro status della provincia
secessionista a maggioranza albanese del Kosovo, nel giorno della
presentazione a porte chiuse di un piano delineato dal mediatore
dell'Onu Martti Ahtisaari per cercare di superare l'impasse.
Consegnate a Vienna a rappresentanti dei Paesi del Gruppo di Contatto
per i Balcani (Usa, Russia, Francia, Germania, Gran Bretagna e
Italia), le proposte di Ahtisaari saranno rese pubbliche a Pristina e
a Belgrado solo il 2 febbraio. Ma le indiscrezioni che lo anticipano
come un esercizio di acrobazia diplomatica (laddove la prospettiva di
un Kosovo indipendente, per quanto a sovranita' limitata, viene
evocata senza essere menzionata esplicitamente) accendono gia'
reazioni. A Belgrado, per sondare la situazione a pochi giorni dalle
elezioni politiche serbe, e' giunta una delegazione europea composta
dai direttori degli affari politici dei dicasteri degli esteri tedesco
e portoghese e dal loro omologo nella Commissione di Bruxelles.
Delegazione che ha incontrato il presidente della repubblica, il
liberal-riformista Boris Tadic, e il premier uscente, il
nazional-centrista Vojislav Kostunica: i due protagonisti principali
delle consultazioni appena avviate per la formazione di un governo di
coalizione tra le forze moderate e dichiaratamente filo-europee finite
alle spalle dell'opposizione ultranazionalista del Partito radicale
nel voto di domenica, ma forti comunque di una teorica maggioranza
assoluta in parlamento a patto di allearsi e superare le rivalita'. A
tal proposito, Tadic ha rassicurato gli ospiti di voler fare ogni
sforzo per trovare le intese necessarie a dar vita a un esecutivo
deciso ''ad andare avanti nel cammino di integrazione euroatlantica''
intrapreso dalla Serbia del dopo-Milosevic. Ma resta il fatto che
anche questo ipotetico futuro governo non sembra destinato a
discostarsi dalla trincea di una strenua resistenza alle altrettanto
inflessibili pretese indipendentiste albanesi sullo spinoso dossier
kosovaro. Tanto piu' se, come appare inevitabile, restera' determinate
il ruolo del partito del coriaceo primo ministro in carica Kostunica,
convinto piu' che mai di poter contare sul sostegno russo in sede Onu.
Non e' un caso che proprio uno degli uomini piu' vicini al premier, il
ministro dell'economia, Predrag Bubalo, si sia affrettato ad avvertire
in queste stesse ore che non esiste alcun ''piano B'' in grado di
mettere in discussione la rivendicazione sull' inalienabilita' del
Kosovo - simbolo secolare dell' epos nazionale serbo - inserita in
tono solenne nel preambolo della Costituzione postjugoslava del 2006.
Un concetto ripreso in termini analoghi dalla nota ufficiale diffusa
dal ministero degli esteri di Belgrado a margine dei colloqui con la
troika: ''Qualsivoglia forma di indipendenza internazionale del Kosovo
imposta alla Serbia - vi si legge - costituirebbe una violenta
alterazione dei confini riconosciuti di uno Stato membro dell'Onu. E
anche un atto di violenza nei confronti della Carta delle Nazioni
Unite''. (ANSA). LR
26/01/2007 17:50
KOSOVO: GRUPPO CONTATTO, AHTISAARI PRESENTA PIANO/ANSA
(di Flaminia Bussotti) (ANSA) - VIENNA, 26 GEN - L'inviato speciale
delle Nazioni Unite per il Kosovo, l'ex presidente finlandese Martti
Ahtisaari, ha presentato oggi in una riunione a porte chiuse a Vienna
con il Gruppo di Contatto, il suo piano sullo statuto della provincia
meridionale serba a maggioranza albanese amministrata dal '99 dall'Onu
(Unmik). Nessuna dichiarazione ufficiale sul documento fino alla sua
presentazione formale fra una settimana, il 2 febbraio, quando
Ahtisaari lo illustrera' a Belgrado e a Pristina. Da indiscrezioni in
margine alla riunione di Vienna e' emerso pero' un generale consenso
da parte dei rappresentanti occidentali nel Gruppo di Contatto (Usa,
Gran Bretagna, Francia, Italia, Germania) mentre la Russia, che nel
negoziato fa l'avvocato della Serbia, preferirebbe aspettare
l'insediamento a Belgrado di un governo con pienezza di poteri.
L'ufficio del negoziatore Ahtisaari a Vienna (Unosek) ha confermato
tuttavia che il calendario non subira' ritardi a causa
dell'insediamento del nuovo governo in Serbia. Il portavoce Remi
Dourlot ha precisato che il prossimo passo sara' la consegna del
documento alle rispettive parti il 2 febbraio cui potranno seguire
nuovi round di negoziato a Vienna. A fine marzo, ha aggiunto, e'
''realistico prevedere'' che il documento sara' presentato al
Consiglio di sicurezza dell'Onu, dopodiche', qualche settimana dopo,
ultimati i lavori di traduzione, dovrebbero cominciare le
consultazioni per una risoluzione. Positiva anche l'accoglienza dei
ministri degli esteri della Nato durante una riunione oggi a
Bruxelles: il francese Philippe Douste-Blazy l'ha lodato perche'
''parte da un sano buon senso''. L'italiano Massimo D'Alema ha
auspicato da parte sua una soluzione negoziata per il Kosovo ammonendo
a non sottovalutare il rischio di una destabilizzazione dei Balcani.
Sempre secondo informazioni non confermate, il piano dovrebbe
prevedere per il futuro assetto giuridico del Kosovo una specie di
''indipendenza condizionata'' o ''supervisionata'' da parte della
comunita' internazionale. Una volta entrato in vigore il piano, la
presenza Unimik dovrebbe finire ed essere sostituita dall'Ue. Le
stesse indiscrezioni parlano della possibilita' di entrare negli
organismi internazionali, di una cittadinanza doppia per i kosovari e,
per converso, di un ampio auto-governo per i 100 mila servi rimasti in
Kosovo. Sul nodo dell'indipendenza le posizioni fra le parti sono
diametralmente opposte: mentre Pristina considera irrinunciabile il
principio dell'indipendenza, Belgrado lo respinge categoricamente e
propone in alternativa un'ampia autonomia. In dichiarazioni
all'agenzia Apa, l'ambasciatore all'Onu austriaco, e esperto dei
Balcani, Wolfgang Petritsch, ha detto che il piano di Ahtisaari
''mettera' in moto un processo che portera' alla fine nel lungo
periodo alla sovranita' e all'indipendenza del Kosovo''. In
dichiarazioni al termine dei colloqui a Vienna, durata circa due ore,
Ahtisaari si e' limitato a dire che si e' trattato di una ''riunione
regolare'' mentre il suo vice Albert Rohan ha partlato di ''un
incontro molto buono e positivo. ''E' stata una riunione difficile'',
ha dichiarato invece un diplomatico alla Reuters. Secondo la stessa
agenzia la Russia sarebbe ''molto scettica''. In prime reazioni alla
presentazione del piano, il premier serbo Vojislav Kostunica ha
annunciato che non ricevera' Ahtisaari quando lo presentera' il 2
febbraio a Belgrado: l'incontro non rientra nelle competenze del
governo uscente, ha fatto sapere riferendosi alle elezioni
parlamentari svoltesi domenica scorsa in Serbia. Il presidente serbo
Boris Tadic pare invece che ''probabilmente'' lo ricevera'. (ANSA). BUS
26/01/2007 18:36
http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n104279
Focus News Agency (Bulgaria) - January 26, 2007
Division of Kosovo is Possible, But This Would Mean a
New War: Kosovo MP
Pristina - It is possible to achieve a division of
Kosovo, but this would mean a new war in Kosovo and in
the Balkans, Nain Hasani, from the Democratic Party of
Kosovo [KLA's Hashim Thaci], said in an interview for
Kosova Press.
According to the interview, Hasani has expressed doubt
that the final stature of Kosovo would be determined
in accordance to the will of the majority of people in
the area.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/1bd7ea66-ac19-11db-a0ed-0000779e2340.html
Financial Times - January 27, 2007
Kosovo: it's not too late to reconsider partition
By Prof Margaret Blunden
Sir, Your editorial "Serbia's chance" (January 23)
suggests that if Serbia is to be persuaded to hold in
check hostility to the prospective independence of
Kosovo, it should be offered in return rapid progress
towards a European Union association deal and future
EU membership.
This alone is an inadequate, and possibly improper,
inducement to Belgrade to abandon the Serbs remaining
in the province, living in fortified enclaves and
separated from the Albanian majority by a wall of
hostility.
The tense political conditions in Kosovo offer no
serious prospects of creating an independent,
harmonious multi-ethnic state. It is not too late for
the international community to reconsider its
categoric opposition to partition. Northern Kosovo,
from the Ibar river to the boundary with Serbia
proper, about 15 per cent of the province and where
the majority of Serbs live, should be allowed to unite
with Serbia.
This is not merely an obvious, face-saving compromise
solution as far as Belgrade is concerned. It would
provide some justice for the much-abused Serbian
minority in Kosovo, avoid a further flood of refugees,
and minimise further bloodshed in an area determined
to retain its links with Belgrade.
Of course, partition would mean breaching the
principle of resisting the break-up of states along
ethnic lines, to which the international community
says it is committed. But then, so was allowing the
former Yugoslavia to disintegrate in the first place.
Margaret Blunden,
London W1G 9PW
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-01/26/content_5659508.htm
Xinhua News Agency - January 26, 2007
Backgrounder: The status of Kosovo
BEIJING - Representatives from the United Nations
(U.N.) and the Contact Group members of Britain,
France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States
met on Friday in Vienna, to discuss the future status
of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo.
The following are some basic facts about Kosovo's
status:
Kosovo, with a population of 2 million people of which
more than 90 percent are ethnic Albanians and about 7
percent Serb, was a southern autonomous province
within Serbia before the breakup of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. It was bordered by Albania and
Macedonia to the south.
Under the 1974 Yugoslav constitution, Kosovo enjoyed
autonomous province status within Serbia. The ethnic
Albanian majority, however, has been pursuing the
independence of Kosovo and resorting to violence.
In 1989, the Serbian authorities altered Kosovo's
status and removed its autonomy, igniting strong
opposition from ethnic Albanians. Tensions between
ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs were worsened.
In 1992, the Yugoslav Federation disintegrated. The
Serb-dominated Yugoslav parliament approved a
constitution for a new state comprising only Serbia
and Montenegro, and proclaimed the creation of the new
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Meanwhile, the Albanian majority in Kosovo announced
the founding of an independent "Kosovo Republic,"
which was not recognized by the international
community. Kosovo was sinking into the mire of
turbulence.
On March 24, 1999, without the approval of the United
Nations (U.N.), NATO launched airstrikes against the
Yugoslav Federation under the pretext of preventing a
"humanitarian crises" in the region, and the Kosovo
war erupted.
On June 9, 1999, Yugoslavia and NATO signed a military
technical agreement on the withdrawal of Serb troops
from Kosovo.
On June 20, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana
announced the formal end of NATO air strikes against
Yugoslavia. And Kosovo has been administered by the
U.N. ever since.
In 2003, the Yugoslav parliament passed a new
constitutional charter, dissolving Yugoslavia and
creating a country named "Serbia and Montenegro."
Serbia, however, hoped to retain sovereignty over
Kosovo while ethnic Albanians demanded its fully
independent status rather than the "maximum autonomy"
Serbian President Boris Tadic had proposed.
In November 2005, negotiations on the future status of
Kosovo were officially launched.
On Feb. 20, 2006, Serbs and Kosovo Albanians sat down
at the same table in Vienna for the first round of
talks on the future of Kosovo.
They have since held eight rounds of technical
discussions in Vienna, but made no substantive
progress due to their divisions on a wide range of
issues, including decentralization and measures to
protect the Serb minority's rights in Kosovo.
(4 -- fine)