Brussels, 10/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - At the Security Council in New York on 13 July, the United Nations special envoy for talks on the status of Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, is to take stock of negotiations in process between Belgrade (Serbia) and Pristina (Kosovo) on the future status of Kosovo. He will do the same in Brussels on 17 July, when speaking before the External Relations and General Affairs Council of the EU. Despite the difficulties encountered so far on the technical chapter of these talks, he hopes to move forward and would like to rapidly begin political negotiations on the final status of the province, a European diplomat explained on 7 July.
Since talks began on the technical aspect of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina in Vienna in February, there has been little progress. Although there is some “convergence” and “possible agreement” on some matters (decentralisation, cultural heritage or economic aspects), on others they are just marking time - for example on minority rights that Belgrade has refused to tackle for now - a European diplomat explained. Mr Ahtisaari is nonetheless “'ready” to move on to the next stage and hopes to begin political negotiations on the status of Kosovo while continuing technical negotiations in parallel, the same source says. In this context, he is said to be planning to call the Serb president and prime minister, Boris Tadic and Vojislav Kostunica, and their Kosovar counterparts, Fatmir Sejdiu and Agim Ceku to a meeting in Vienna end July.
Despite Mr Ahtisaari's good intentions, there is still a long way to go. “We are not at the end - not even at the beginning of the end” of negotiations, the same diplomat said. Both parties are sticking firmly to their positions. The Kosovar Albanians want independence, whereas Belgrade agrees to allow far-reaching autonomy, albeit within the Serbian borders. Reconciling the positions of the two parties seems extremely difficult if not impossible and, in the case of lasting deadlock, the international community will be called upon to seal the fate of the province. “A negotiated solution” that is satisfying for both Belgrade and Pristina is “preferable” but “no-one can block the process indefinitely” and “if an agreement is not possible”, then the Security Council “should take its responsibilities”, the same source explained. To put it clearly, this means unanimously deciding on the future status of the province.
The Contact Group for Kosovo (United States, Russia, Germany, France, United Kingdom) has set itself the objective of making every possible effort necessary to reach an agreement on the status of Kosovo by end 2006. However, different factors, such as the forthcoming elections in Serbia, could delay the process, EUROPE was told by an observer. Not to mention the fact that Russia, which is not in favour of Kosovo's independence, is in less of a hurry than its Contact Group partners to see the negotiation process completed in 2006.
Whatever the outcome of the talks (and even if there is an inevitable move toward independence of the province as some seem to think), one thing is certain: an international civilian and military presence will be essential during many years especially to ensure implementation of the status of Kosovo and its security, especially for the protection of minorities. And for a long time yet Kosovo will need financial support from the international community.