Brussels, 17/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - Faced with the threat of a Russian veto on the issue of the status of Kosovo, “it is now time for a few member states to show leadership on this question,” said International Crisis Group Vice-President Alain Délétroz at a press conference. He said the Portuguese presidency should work with the European countries in the contact group (the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy) and bring pressure to bear on Moscow, which, on Monday, rejected the new draft resolution on Kosovo debated at the UN. Although the text drawn up by the Americans and Europeans provides for further negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina within 120 days and no longer speaks of automatic transition to supervised independence, it remains imbued with the idea of independence for Kosovo, said the Russian ambassador to the United Nations. “It is time to show Moscow we can be tough too”, by indicating that if the deadlock continues, “there will be unilateral recognition of the independence of Kosovo by these (contact group) countries” and the other EU member states will be able to align themselves with this recognition, Mr Délétroz said. While the United States has already indicated that it could move unilaterally on Kosovan independence, the EU, held hostage by the positions of both Washington and Moscow, has continued to call for a UN Security Council resolution. Presenting the Portuguese presidency programme to the press at the end of June, Prime Minister José Socrates argued in general terms for a calming in relations with Moscow and was clear in rejecting anything more strong- arm.
Before flying out to the Middle East, Mr Solana stressed that it was no longer possible to go on indefinitely seeking agreement on a resolution on the status of Kosovo in the UN Security Council. If there was no agreement in the United Nations, it would be necessary to “move on”, and bring the parties together to negotiate within the 120-day deadline provided for in the resolution, he said, and he spoke of shuttles between the two parties to try to find a solution. When asked if Martti Ahtisaari would retain his role as negotiator in this process, Mr Solana answered, “I cannot answer formally now, but I think it will probably be under the aegis of the contact group”. (ab)