Vienna, 14/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, took part on 14 October in Vienna, together with NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, in the opening of the first direct discussions between Pristina and Belgrade. These discussions were organised by the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and sponsored by the EU, NATO and the OSCE.
For the first time since the Kosovo conflict, political leaders from Pristina and Belgrade sat at the same table, pointed out Mr Solana in his speech, while welcoming the presence of the President of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova and the President of the Parliament Nexhat Daci, as well as the Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister Zikvoi and Covic but regretted that "others had found the journey to Vienna too difficult" (the Kosovan Prime Minister and his Ministers refused to take part in the meeting).
Discussions will not focus on the final status of Kosovo, as the moment for dealing with this problem with any chance of success, was not yet ripe, pointed out Mr Solana, who noted that dialogue would focus on concrete questions that affect daily life (energy, transport, telecommunications), as well as problems inherited from the conflict, such as "missing persons" and "returns".
This dialogue is essential for bringing the region up to European standards, repeated Mr Solana, who exhorted the parties to make a commitment with seriousness and in a constructive fashion to the work groups that will soon be set up.