Sunday, May 08, 2005

South Tyrol model right for Kosovo - Serbia-Montenegro foreign minister

Belgrade, 8 May: Federal Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic has proposed the South Tyrol as the closest model for the final status of Kosovo, saying this is a status which meets the requirement of "more than autonomy, less than independence". In the South Tyrol, the Austrian majority has practical sovereignty while the Italian minority has special rights.

"I would agree with that solution. It provides for the greatest degree of protection for the Italian minority in the framework of the existing borders, and we are for something which is very similar to that solution," he said.

Draskovic thinks negotiations on the province's final status could begin by the end of this year, but says it's unlikely they'd be completed before the end of 2006.

"In fact it would be good for that process to last a long time because in the meantime we will be Europeanising Serbia, entering NATO in 2007, we'll find ourselves in a situation where it is one short march into the EU. Then the future will look completely different, even the look of Kosovo, because the Europe project consigns independence to the past and brings in the principle of interdependence," said the foreign minister.

Source: Radio B92 text web site, Belgrade, in English 1033 gmt 8 May 05

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

What about the model of Bosnia? What happened to that.Oh wait its another day the Serbs have changed their mind again. This models of desperation that the Serbs come up with everyday only scream- Kosova a lost cause.

Anonymous said...

South Tryol is not a model, its an a rational agreement between civilized nations where blood hasn't been spilled in a long time. Kosova is not, Serbs still need to apologize for the genocide while Albanians have to get off their "bottoms" and start getting serious.

Anonymous said...

To compare Kosova to Tyrol is absurd. And the "requirement" for less than independence? Just whose "requirement" is it? How dare the Serbians voice a "requirement" for Kosova.

Anonymous said...

It matters not what you are comparing Kosovo with. It will NOT be independent. Wait and see.
T.B New York City

Anonymous said...

T.B., YOU wait and see...Republika e Kosoves will be independent. And much sooner than you think!

Anonymous said...

Indipendence is the only solution for the future of the Balkans and anyone knows that....Is not in the hands of Serbia to decide for Kosovo but in the hands of Kosovars.

Anonymous said...

People relax, God spoke to me yesterday and told me that 2005 is the year Kosova will be independent. He also told me to say hi to President Bush.

Anonymous said...

2005 is half over and not a peep of "independence" talk has emerged. South Tyrol model is probably the best option as a temporary fix. What serbia doesnt realize is that they will not regain outright authority of the region again, what the kosovars do not understand is that without a new UN resolution... independence is a pipe dream.

Anonymous said...

Kosovars declare independence, self-determination is a human right, will the UN go against human rights? All this stuff is very confusing.

We might give independence to Serbia! Serbia, since it's an Albanian and Montenegro province. Montenegro and Kosova need to meet and decide the fate of Serbia and whether it will they allow this province to separate and finaly be recognized by the world with its own flag, its own name, and its own crimes/good deeds.

It is in the interest of Montenegro and Kosova to allow the province of Serbia to move away and face its history.

We need talks between Podgorica and Prishtina on the issue of Serbia and its final status.

Anonymous said...

Kosovo is Serbia and that is how and why Serbs dare to talk about the status of it and have requirements for it!
Kosovo will be Serbian or it will not be!We are 11 mil and you 2!One day your Americasn friends will turn their backs to you and - then ....