Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive
Prishtina [Pristina], 11 January: UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] chief Soeren Jessen-Petersen and Kosova [Kosovo] Assembly Chairman Nexhat Daci said today that there will be no creation of entities and there will be no partition of Kosova.
Jessen-Petersen and Daci made these remarks today following their first meting this year, where they discussed the negotiation process and the work that awaits the parliament this year.
Speaking about the decentralization and Belgrade's demand for creation of entities in Kosova, Jessen-Petersen said that he thinks that there should be no demands, but positions, "because the word demand is not something that [UN special envoy Martti] Ahtisaari would like."
"As far as the issue of entities, I am still not aware of any detail. But if entities in any way smell like partition, then that is not on the agenda. It is absolutely clear that partition of Kosovo is not on the agenda."
While, Daci said that anything that may signalize partition or division into ethnic lines cannot be implemented. "I continue to make it clear that after independence, a substantial decentralization for Kosova citizens shall take place, a decentralization that would be governed with the laws for local administration, local finances, justice, education and so on. So, it shall be a decentralization only for Kosovars," Daci said.
He also said that the responsibilities and obligations to the citizens lie with Kosova institutions "and not with Belgrade, which of course can be interested for cultural heritage, human rights."
While, Jessen-Petersen said that UNMIK is in Kosova to support the negotiation process, a process which is in the interest of all citizens.
"I have made it clear from the beginning that I believe it is important that we now move on to the status, that the status issue be resolved. I am confident that it will be resolved in the course of this year. And I think this will be the best way to move forward on European issues. We have to get status clarified and move forward with the better assurances to the minorities; to move forward on economy, which is of concern to all citizens of Kosovo, and to move forward in getting the minorities together. Clarity will help and that is why the status is so important," Jessen-Petersen said.
Jessen-Petersen said that negotiations are the top priority and called on the Negotiating Team to meet on regular bases and get prepared for very difficult talks.
Daci said that he is confident that the Negotiating Team will meet more frequently. He said that there is information that the health of Kosova's President Ibrahim Rugova is improving continuously, but added that "other modalities" for functioning of the Negotiating Team will also be considered.
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 11 Jan 06
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4 comments:
When people have to travel everywere escorted by soldiers you can understand why there must be segregation,so far the albanians have only proved to the world community that their words have no meaning and everything they say about protecting minorities and religous sites has failed dismally.At the end of the day the days of Serbs and Albanians living together in any way are gone forever.Be realistic not a day dreamer.
Look what happened in Yugoslavia,sooner or later the conficts rise up.These days there arent many bi-national countries in europe that i know of e.g Czechslovakia now czech and slovak,and all the former states of the USSR.Time teaches us that integration rarely works especially with two hostile people like the Serbs and albanians hard to see it ever happening unfortunately.
Albanians and Macedonians proved it that if both parties want it, such states can work. Montenegro is another example. Europe is full of other examples like this. The question is do Serbs want to live in a country where they are minority or is that beyond comprehension for them?
If that is the case then you know what is next... macedonia, southern Serbia, Greece, Montenegro and so forth. Go ahead and propose that to ur negotiation team.
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