Disagreement surfaced Friday in advance of Kosovo's progress in moving toward a stable, multi-ethnic society as a condition for determining the province's final political status.
The head of the U.N. Mission to Kosovo, Soeren Jessen-Petersen offered positive signs of increased dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on energy, missing persons and transportation issues. He said Kosovo has taken major steps to improve life for ethnic minorities, including new judges representing minority communities and he noted increased trust in the police and more freedom of movement.
But he said Kosovo's majority Albanians must show the same respect for minorities that European states accord minorities. And he said Belgrade must encourage Kosovo Serbs to participate in the process to ensure that their rights are protected.
"I think there was a clear message here: continue your good work, continue your hard work. If you work even harder, you will get there. But now it is very much in the hands of the Kosovo Albanians. They know what they have to do. The agenda is clear and I must say I count on the Kosovo leaders to do that and I count on the Kosovo Serbs and Belgrade to make sure that the Kosovo Serbs will be part of that process. That is very important," he said.
The United Nations has established a checklist of eight norms of democratic society which Kosovo must meet before any discussions on the province's final status.
The head of Belgrade's Kosovo Coordination Center, Nebojosa Covic, said Serbia and Montenegro support the comprehensive review Secretary-General Kofi Annan has initiated because it will show a far different reality than the one presented in Mr. Jesson-Peterson's report.
"Serbs are not against participation, but please do not ask them to participate in something which is not based on basic principle, an unprincipled approach that leads to the independence of Kosovo. Once they become free of fear and frustrations they are experiencing, for them it will be much easier and for Belgrade authorities to encourage them toward participation," he said.
Mr. Covic said an independent Kosovo is not a sustainable or democratic option and would destabilize the region.
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8 comments:
I dont think for a second that Kosovo will gain independence. Its impossible to take a part of a country and make it another country.
Steve, Baltimore MD
It's very much possible Steve. Where do you want me to start, Hawaii, SW US, Panama, East Timor...
And by the way, the country you have in mind has been clinically dead for a long time now. The last state Albanians belonged to used to be described as a country "consisting of six republics and two autonomous regions." Everythings else since then has been created through the barrel of heavy tanks.
Anonymous. Im talking about europe 2005. Maybe Kosovo is "worth" beeing independent, but nevertheless, this decision must and will go through the UN Security council and you have two permanent memberstates, Russia and China that will for sure vote no. Then you have France, Romania and Greece at the chairposts that will vote no or "maybe with conditions". For sure, no matter what the decision will be, it will take many, many years before it is solved.
Steve
Once upon a time there was a colony that today is called United States of America, and it was born by blood of people who fought for something they believed in.
Today its our turn, the Kosovars will not be part of Serbia, simply because it would be the most immoral thing to do. Steve, the only other option is that Serbs, and if Europe want to help them, kill us all and erase us from the face of this planet. That is the only option other than independence.
It would not be the first time that European countries have allowed the genocide of the Albanian people. If it was up to them it wouldn't be any problem for the issue to be solved by the way you describe it and see us all dead. That's how Albania as a state ended uo being 1/3 of its size. We are the one of the fewest countries in the world that share borders with ourselves, Kosova, Cameria, more than 1/4 of FYROM and the Albanian part of Montengro.
Steve from Baltimore MD....regarding your comment:
"Its impossible to take a part of a country and make it another country."
You obviously haven't been following world politics, and obviously haven't studied world history...and most of all Kosovo's history.
Kosovo itself in 1913, by the great powers, was taken from Albania, and given to another country (Serbia)....
In today's day and age there are many cases....as mentioned in a previous comment...i.e Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong, East Timor, Chechnya, Eritrea, Aceh, Puerto Rico, Irianjaya, Palestine and many many more.....
The Palestine example is ironic, as the great powers made a new country out of nowhere on somebody else's land.
It's unfortunate that many many years ago, oppressors and land grabbers would snatch other lands and claim it to be theres.....
About time someone agrees with me. Steve, that is exactly what i have been telling people. UNSCR 1244 has to be altered and there is NO way Russia or China will ok it when you look at chechnya, tibet, ingushtia, Taiwan problems they have. Its just not realistic.
Here's some things I've heard about why Russia will not veto. It is being discussed to recognize the independence of Ossetia ( Russian population) and Kosova at the same time. That makes it very possible for Russia not to veto. And about China its not as hard as it seems they have no interests in the Balkans.
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