Tweet
Kosovo 'should split from Serbia'
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/ europe/6321147.stm
2007/02/02 00:11:52 GMT
Kosovo will be allowed to separate from Serbia and use its own national
symbols under proposals to end its limbo status drawn up by the UN's
special envoy.
Martti Ahtisaari's plan does not mention the word "independence", but
that is virtually what is on offer, Western diplomats told the BBC.
Mr Ahtisaari will present his plan in Serbia later on Friday.
The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign forced
Serbian troops to withdraw in 1999.
Talks to determine Kosovo's final status have been continuing for years
without the two sides coming to agreement.
To be honest, I am a bit scared of what we are coming to
Hasan Bytyqi
Kosovo Albanian
Ethnic Albanians, who make up 90% of the province's two million people,
overwhelmingly want to break away from Serbia.
But Serbs regard the province - which is still officially part of
Serbia - as the cradle of their culture, and oppose any solution that
would lead to its independence.
Mr Ahtisaari's plan, however, amounts to "independence, subject to
international supervision", said one Western diplomat, who wished to
remain unnamed.
Kosovo would be allowed its own national symbols, including a flag and
anthem, and to apply for membership of international organisations like
the United Nations.
Serb rights
It would not be unconditional independence, however.
An "international community representative" would be appointed, with
powers to intervene if Kosovo tries to go further than the plan allows,
while Nato and EU forces would remain in military and policing roles.
Kosovo could not be partitioned between Serbian and ethnic Albanian
areas, nor would Kosovo be allowed to join any other state - implicitly
ruling out the creation of a "greater Albania".
Serbia would have to accept the loss of Kosovo. Kosovo would have to
accept... limits on its sovereignty
Western diplomat
The interests of Kosovo's Serbs, including the Serbian Orthodox Church
and the language, would be explicitly protected, and there would be
guaranteed Serb representation in parliament, the police and civil
service.
Mr Ahtisaari will present his plan first to Serbian officials in
Belgrade and then to ethnic-Albanian leaders in Kosovo itself.
The UN Security Council will have the final say on whether to adopt the
plan.
Serbia has said repeatedly that it would not accept any loss of
sovereignty over Kosovo, and Slobodan Samardzic, a Serbian negotiator,
rejected Mr Ahtisaari's expected conclusions.
"Anything that... violates Serbia's internal laws, cannot be a subject
to negotiation," he told state-run Serbian TV.
Kosovo Albanians expressed nervousness ahead of the formal
announcement.
Saime Maliqi, 47, who lives in Kosovo's capital Pristina, said: "All of
us are waiting desperately for Friday to improve our lives."
Hasan Bytyqi, an ethnic-Albanian merchant, told Associated Press: "To
be honest, I am a bit scared of what we are coming to."
Aleksandar Spasic, a 76-year-old Kosovan Serb, said: "I don't believe
that Ahtisaari will help Kosovo Serbs a lot. But I will never leave
Kosovo... I was born here and this is where I want to die."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/ europe/6321147.stm
2007/02/02 00:11:52 GMT
Kosovo will be allowed to separate from Serbia and use its own national
symbols under proposals to end its limbo status drawn up by the UN's
special envoy.
Martti Ahtisaari's plan does not mention the word "independence", but
that is virtually what is on offer, Western diplomats told the BBC.
Mr Ahtisaari will present his plan in Serbia later on Friday.
The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign forced
Serbian troops to withdraw in 1999.
Talks to determine Kosovo's final status have been continuing for years
without the two sides coming to agreement.
To be honest, I am a bit scared of what we are coming to
Hasan Bytyqi
Kosovo Albanian
Ethnic Albanians, who make up 90% of the province's two million people,
overwhelmingly want to break away from Serbia.
But Serbs regard the province - which is still officially part of
Serbia - as the cradle of their culture, and oppose any solution that
would lead to its independence.
Mr Ahtisaari's plan, however, amounts to "independence, subject to
international supervision", said one Western diplomat, who wished to
remain unnamed.
Kosovo would be allowed its own national symbols, including a flag and
anthem, and to apply for membership of international organisations like
the United Nations.
Serb rights
It would not be unconditional independence, however.
An "international community representative" would be appointed, with
powers to intervene if Kosovo tries to go further than the plan allows,
while Nato and EU forces would remain in military and policing roles.
Kosovo could not be partitioned between Serbian and ethnic Albanian
areas, nor would Kosovo be allowed to join any other state - implicitly
ruling out the creation of a "greater Albania".
Serbia would have to accept the loss of Kosovo. Kosovo would have to
accept... limits on its sovereignty
Western diplomat
The interests of Kosovo's Serbs, including the Serbian Orthodox Church
and the language, would be explicitly protected, and there would be
guaranteed Serb representation in parliament, the police and civil
service.
Mr Ahtisaari will present his plan first to Serbian officials in
Belgrade and then to ethnic-Albanian leaders in Kosovo itself.
The UN Security Council will have the final say on whether to adopt the
plan.
Serbia has said repeatedly that it would not accept any loss of
sovereignty over Kosovo, and Slobodan Samardzic, a Serbian negotiator,
rejected Mr Ahtisaari's expected conclusions.
"Anything that... violates Serbia's internal laws, cannot be a subject
to negotiation," he told state-run Serbian TV.
Kosovo Albanians expressed nervousness ahead of the formal
announcement.
Saime Maliqi, 47, who lives in Kosovo's capital Pristina, said: "All of
us are waiting desperately for Friday to improve our lives."
Hasan Bytyqi, an ethnic-Albanian merchant, told Associated Press: "To
be honest, I am a bit scared of what we are coming to."
Aleksandar Spasic, a 76-year-old Kosovan Serb, said: "I don't believe
that Ahtisaari will help Kosovo Serbs a lot. But I will never leave
Kosovo... I was born here and this is where I want to die."