Dobbins: US will not accept solutions against the will of majority

Papers quote former US envoy for the Balkans James Dobbins as saying that the US would not accept a solution for Kosovo that would not match the will of the majority. ‘Any option that is not supported by majority of Kosovans is not supported by the US either’, said Dobbins in an interview for Radio Free Europe. He reaffirmed that decision on Kosovo status will be taken by UN SC despite different views Russia China will have.

Mr.Dobbins agreed with the fact that the talks on the final status solution for Kosovo would start in autumn and that the final solution would be decided by UN SC, adding that this should not be difficult, although Russia and China will have different views. James Dobbins said: “We hope that all the parties involved will achieve an agreement. But the lack of talks will not block the resolution on the final status”. Koha Ditore quotes Mr. Dobbins as saying it is very important that minorities in Kosovo live in peace and prosperity, since any final solution will have to include special arrangements to protect the minorities, notably the Serbs. Asked whether this would mean an inevitable independence of Kosovo, Dobbins answered: “This would mean independence under fulfilment of the conditions which I mentioned”.

According to the paper, Mr. Dobbins said that the recent statement made by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia-Montenegro Vuk Drashkovic in connection with the solution of Kosovo status issue and of the Serb republic in Bosnia is an irresponsible statement. It is not in the interest of Serbia itself to destabilize Bosnia or any other neighbouring country, added Mr Robbins. “On the contrary, the interest for Serbia Montenegro lies in a calm and democratic Bosnia heading towards EU membership and having a good relationship with Serbia. If someone wishes to change the right on self-determination, without consideration of any other issues, then the Serbian territory itself could be divided”.