euro|topics - New talks about Kosovo's status

Main focus of Tuesday, August 14, 2007

New talks about Kosovo's status

The formal talks about Kosovo's future have entered a new round. However, the Kosovo-troika, with envoys from the EU, the US and Russia, is at odds about the right strategy for the region, which is still under UN administration. In addition to independence an alliance of states or even the division of the territory are now under discussion.

Financial Times - United Kingdom

"The EU and the US must make every effort to ensure that they do not split over whether to recognise Kosovo as independent without a Security Council resolution", considers the daily. "It is all very well for the two sides of the Atlantic to perform a 'good cop, bad cop' routine when dealing with Serbia, but they cannot afford this being shown up as more than mere show. ... Americans and Europeans may well have to decide whether the priority is to transfer Kosovo's administration to the EU by means of a UN vote or to recognise it as independent without a UN consensus. But it would be better for all concerned if that unenviable choice were never made. For now, in its search for a solution, the west must put a premium on unity – and a bit of ingenuity." (13/08/2007)

die tageszeitung - Germany

EU envoy Wolfgang Ischinger has brought up the possibility of dividing Kosovo. Erich Rathfelder harshly criticises the proposal and points to the consequences: "Ischinger's proposal is scandalous in the extreme. It would overturn the international community's entire Balkan policy up to now - not only that of the EU, but also that of the UN, the OSCE, NATO and other international organisations. So far the borders of the former republics and autonomous regions have been observed in the division of former Yugoslavia - and for good reason. If one were to redefine the borders according to ethnic criteria, it would be tantamount to admitting that the warmongers of the most recent Balkan wars had been right all along. In this case, what would be the point of the war crimes tribunal in The Hague? (14/08/2007)

Libération - France

Chris Patten, former European commissioner for external relations, is vice-chairman of the board of the International Crisis Group. He criticises the Serbian authorities for "hoping that by stalling and delaying Kosovo independence, the Albanians will resort to a unilateral declaration of independence that splits the international community or violence that makes the Serbs look good. In the meantime, the clock is ticking, and Kosovo needs answers. Kosovo Albanians have waited eight years for the international community to ... resolve their status. Although outnumbering all minorities, they have agreed to establish a multiethnic state with the strongest minority protection regime ever seen in Europe. ... Given the Kosovo people's overwhelming desire to be free from the state that tried to eliminate them and the lack of any realistic alternative from Belgrade, the international community has little choice but to give Kosovo its independence." (14/08/2007)

Ziniu Radijas - Lithuania

Ceslovas Iskauskas points to the struggle for independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia, as well of that of the breakaway territory of Transnistria within the Republic of Moldova. For Russia, an independent Kosovo would set a precedent for the way it deals with these territories. "Time is running out in Kosovo. Elections are scheduled for November and a referendum on the future of the country is in planning. By that time the international community must reach a fundamental agreement on Kosovo's independence without provoking another confrontation with Serbia. But what should be done about the post-Soviet territories? If Kosovo does become completely separate from Serbia, Moscow will work towards the independence of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. And that means we'll be facing a repeat of the Balkan situation on the territory of the former Soviet Union." (14/08/2007)