Brussels, 20/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - Talks on the status of Kosovo were launched in Vienna on 20 February, under the auspices of the United Nations special envoy Martti Ahtisaari (a Finnish national) and attended by representatives of the EU and the United States. The two days of talks between Albanian leaders from Kosovo and Serbs are the first stage in negotiations to determine the future status of Kosovo (currently a province of Serbia). Albanians make up 90% of the population of Kosovo and are calling for independence, but Belgrade wants Kosovo to remain part of Serbia. Last Friday, during his tour of the Balkans, the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, called on the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to make the necessary concessions. According to AFP, in Pristina (Kosovo), Barroso said both sides were responsible and the time had come to prepare generous compromises that should of course be prepared by all sides, not just one. In Belgrade on Thursday, Barroso called on the Serb authorities to improve cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague so as not to endanger its chances of eventual membership of the European Union: 'My message to authorities… is a message of confidence in the future of your European prospects,' said Barroso (quoted by the Dow Jones): 'Your prospects so far must not be undermined by any lack of cooperation with The Hague Tribunal.' Belgrade's cooperation with the ICTY will be subject of a report to be submitted to the 27 February General Affairs and External Relations Council by Commissioner Olli Rehn.
During Rehn and Barroso's visit to the area, they visited Albania on Saturday, where the Commission initialled the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Albania. This is the first stage in the process of Albania joining the EU, and Barroso congratulated Albania 'for this success'. In a speech to the Albanian parliament, the President of the European Commission called on the country to do more to combat corruption and organised crime, liberalise the economy, bring its legislation on the media into line with European standards and implement OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) recommendations for electoral reform. Awaiting the ratification and signing of the SAA by all sides, an interim agreement will allow the immediate application of the SAA's measures.