Kosovo Report November 15, 2005
Kosovo warned against declaration of independence Serbia Set To Reject Kosovo Independence At Talks Next Month Serbia: To Adopt Platform Rejecting Kosovo Independence Serbia President Warns Of Strife If Kosovo Seeks Independence Main political forces say they will vote pro independence resolution (Zëri) Political Group adopts three documents on Kosovo stance ###### http://www.balkanpeace.org/hed/archive/nov05/hed7239.shtml AKI, November 15, 2005 Belgrade and Pristina in 'resolutions war' Belgrade/Pristina, 15 Nov. (AKI) - Ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosovo and the Serbian government in Belgrade are engaged in what could be called a "war of resolutions", ahead of the start of talks on the final status of the province, under United Nations control since 1999. The government of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica on Tuesday adopted a draft resolution which sets guidelines for the Belgrade negotiating team, clearly stating that independence and any change of the existing state borders is unacceptable. The draft, expected to be approved by the Serbian parliament next Monday, enjoys bipartisan support. Meanwhile, ethnic Albanians, who demand independence, have scheduled their own parliamentary session in Pristina on Thursday, which is almost certain to adopt a resolutiotion calling for independence, based on the will of the majority population there. Political analysts see both moves as a form of pressure on the international community before status talks begin, probably towards the end of this month. The United Nations has named former president of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, to head the talks and to try to reconcile what now seem diametrically opposed positions. Ahtisaari is expected to embark on the first leg of his "shuttle diplomacy" tour between Pristina and Belgrade shortly, and both sides place great hopes in his objectiveness and negotiating skills. Ahtisaari had helped to hammer out an agreement in 1999, which resulted in withdrawal of Serbian forces from the province, following an ethnic Albanian rebellion and NATO bombing raids. Belgrade fears that the international community might ultimately impose a solution, granting Kosovo independence, but the draft resolution said that "the Serbian parliament would consider any imposed solution as illegitimate, illegal and void". Instead of independence, Belgrade is offering Kosovo Albanians broad autonomy, demanding equal autonomy for some 100.000 Serbs remaining in the province. But Kosovo ethnic Albanian leaders have repeatedly stated they would settle for nothing short of independence. "The future status of Kosovo and Metohija (Serbian name for the province) can be defined only within the framework of corresponding principles and norms of the UN and other international organizations, with respect for the constitutional order of Serbia and Montenegro," the Belgrade draft stated. Pristina Albanian language media reported on Tuesday that the head of the UN administration in Kosovo (Unmik), Soren Jessen Petersen, was unhappy with the proposed ethnic Albanian resolution and might declare it void. Petersen has wide arbitrary powers in the province and Unmik sources in Pristina said that the Kosovo parliament did not have the power to adopt a resolution on independence. However, UN spokesman Naraaj Singh said that "Unmik supports a resolution which would enhance negotiating process on the status" of the province. According to the present constitutional arrangement, Kosovo's parliament is not entitled to make decisions regarding independence, and if it does, "the Unmik chief will have to act against such a decision", Sigh said. Petersen's firm stand seemed to give Ahtisaari room to manoeuvre in starting talks, adhering to the principle that no solution would be imposed, and that Pristina and Belgrade must arrive at a compromise through negotiations. ###### http://www.balkanpeace.org/hed/archive/nov05/hed7239.shtml AKI, November 15, 2005 Belgrade and Pristina in 'resolutions war' Belgrade/Pristina, 15 Nov. (AKI) - Ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosovo and the Serbian government in Belgrade are engaged in what could be called a "war of resolutions", ahead of the start of talks on the final status of the province, under United Nations control since 1999. The government of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica on Tuesday adopted a draft resolution which sets guidelines for the Belgrade negotiating team, clearly stating that independence and any change of the existing state borders is unacceptable. The draft, expected to be approved by the Serbian parliament next Monday, enjoys bipartisan support. Meanwhile, ethnic Albanians, who demand independence, have scheduled their own parliamentary session in Pristina on Thursday, which is almost certain to adopt a resolutiotion calling for independence, based on the will of the majority population there. Political analysts see both moves as a form of pressure on the international community before status talks begin, probably towards the end of this month. The United Nations has named former president of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, to head the talks and to try to reconcile what now seem diametrically opposed positions. Ahtisaari is expected to embark on the first leg of his "shuttle diplomacy" tour between Pristina and Belgrade shortly, and both sides place great hopes in his objectiveness and negotiating skills. Ahtisaari had helped to hammer out an agreement in 1999, which resulted in withdrawal of Serbian forces from the province, following an ethnic Albanian rebellion and NATO bombing raids. Belgrade fears that the international community might ultimately impose a solution, granting Kosovo independence, but the draft resolution said that "the Serbian parliament would consider any imposed solution as illegitimate, illegal and void". Instead of independence, Belgrade is offering Kosovo Albanians broad autonomy, demanding equal autonomy for some 100.000 Serbs remaining in the province. But Kosovo ethnic Albanian leaders have repeatedly stated they would settle for nothing short of independence. "The future status of Kosovo and Metohija (Serbian name for the province) can be defined only within the framework of corresponding principles and norms of the UN and other international organizations, with respect for the constitutional order of Serbia and Montenegro," the Belgrade draft stated. Pristina Albanian language media reported on Tuesday that the head of the UN administration in Kosovo (Unmik), Soren Jessen Petersen, was unhappy with the proposed ethnic Albanian resolution and might declare it void. Petersen has wide arbitrary powers in the province and Unmik sources in Pristina said that the Kosovo parliament did not have the power to adopt a resolution on independence. However, UN spokesman Naraaj Singh said that "Unmik supports a resolution which would enhance negotiating process on the status" of the province. According to the present constitutional arrangement, Kosovo's parliament is not entitled to make decisions regarding independence, and if it does, "the Unmik chief will have to act against such a decision", Sigh said. Petersen's firm stand seemed to give Ahtisaari room to manoeuvre in starting talks, adhering to the principle that no solution would be imposed, and that Pristina and Belgrade must arrive at a compromise through negotiations. Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
