http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,[EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED],0.html
Martti Ahtisaari, mediator of UNO for Kosovo
"It is very difficult to imagine a solution negotiated" on the statute of
Kosovo
THE WORLD | 09.02.07 | Updated 14h39 09.02.07 | 16h43
NEW YORK (THE UNITED NATIONS) CORRESPONDING
C do you still royez with a solution negotiated on the statute of Kosovo?
It is very difficult to imagine a negotiated solution. I fear that the
Security
Council of UNO must slice, so much the sights of the parts are diametrically
opposite. Belgrade does not want independence of Kosovo and 90 % of Kosovan
(Albanian) do not accept anything other but independence. Time will not
solve the question. Even if I negotiated all my life, they would not agree.
Did one year of talks make it possible to advance?
On the questions like the protection of the religious sites, the cultural
heritage, the guarantees for the Kosovan Serb ones, arrangements between
Belgrade and the municipalities directed by the Serb ones, we made progress.
It is an equitable compromise. But on the central problem of the statute,
there is not only I can make.
You are engaged in a last "round" of negotiations. Etes you ready to
modify
your plan?
That depends on the parts. I remain open, but I do not expect that a
completely
new document emerges. Certain elements are not negotiable, like the presence
of the international community.
How to convince that your plan is the best compromise?
Kosovan Albanian took an active part in the process. They know that it is
the result of a negotiation. They do not like all, but they are much more
favorable to the plan than the Serb ones, which did not really evolve/move.
The Serb ones adopted in 2006 a Constitution (stipulating that Kosovo is
integral part of Serbia) which fixes their position. From there, I do not
see how they can propose something again.
Is independence negotiable for Kosovan Albanian?
They say that independence is the only thing which they can accept. But they
interpret already my plan like driving with independence. The Serb ones are
opposed to this plan with same interpretation. It is their right.
When I present the final project, the statute will be very clearly defined.
Will you fix an expiry for the negotiation?
It is never finished, as long as the Security Council did not decide it.
But I would like that my plan arrives at the Council before the end March.
Even if there is a time to train the team of negotiation in Belgrade,
I am held with this calendar.
Do you fear that Russia, allied of Belgrade, opposes a veto in any
resolution which would lead to the independence of Kosovo?
I never found useful to speculate in what the permanent members of the
Security
Council will do. Do not forget that Russia agreed to give its agreement to a
plain declaration of the "group of contact" (Germany, the United States,
France, Italy, Royaume-Uni, Russia) to encourage the parts to negotiate.
We do not have yet the final position of anyone. These is an interesting
process, which will begin really only one time that my final plan will be
presented.
Would the independence of Kosovo be likely to create a precedent,
in Balkans or elsewhere?
I do not think that the international community, at least in Balkans,
would authorize it. But if it is fear, one should never have opened the
process of the statute. UNO should have maintained until the end of time
Minuk (Mission of UNO in Kosovo) and the KFOR (Force of NATO).
If the Security Council accepts your plan, at which horizon Kosovo
can it hope to be independent?
One transitional period four months starts starting from the resolution of
UNO, if there is one of them. For this period, a Constitution must be
written
by the Kosovan ones, with certain firm principles which we enacted.
Always by supposing that there is a resolution, it would put an end to the
mandate of Minuk after this transitional period. Then the European Union
would take again the role of supervision. And I suppose that, at the
proper time, the Kosovan ones will declare their independence and will be
recognized. I do not have a date with the spirit, but I think that the
things
would go very quickly.
And if Russia blocks the process with the Security Council?
I do not want to speculate, but everyone, with the Security Council, knows
that that would create complications on the ground. If people wait until
their statute is decided during eight years and that it is not done,
they become nervous and there can be incidents. All is question of calendar.
It would be necessary to obtain a fast decision during the German presidency
of the EU (which is completed on June 30).
You managed many thorny files. Is this one a "impossible mission"?
All the conflicts of the world can be solved. I do not include/understand
why people think that this file is so complicated. If you can lead the
principal actors of the international community to share a point of view,
they can regulate anything. I always said to them: let us regulate Kosovo
then pass to the serious things, like the israélo-Palestinian conflict.
Remarks collected by Philippe Bolopion
(Box)
Chronology
March-10 24 June 1999: air military offensive of NATO against
Serbia,
the following which Belgrade agrees to withdraw its forces of
Kosovo.
The Serb province is put under protection of UNO and NATO.
October 2003: first direct talks, in Vienna, between Serbia and
Kosovan Albanian.
December 2005: beginning of the mediation of the special
correspondent
of UNO, the Finnish former president Martti Ahtisaari, to lead to a
new statute of Kosovo.
October 29, 2006: Serbia approves by referendum a new Constitution
affirming its sovereignty on Kosovo.
January 26, 2007: Mr. Ahtisaari presents his plan at the "group of
international contact" in Vienna then, February 2, in Belgrade and
Pristina.
-----------------
The negotiations between Serbes and Albanian will take again on
February 21 in Vienna, announced Albert Rohan, associated of Martti
Ahtisaari, thus reaching at the request of the Serb president, Boris
Tadic, to defer the negotiations, envisaged at the origin for
February 13.
In addition, the Minister for Russian defense, Sergueï Ivanov,
benefitted from the ministerial meeting of NATO in Seville to
reaffirm
the opposition of Moscow to the independence of Kosovo. - (With
AFP.)
-----------------
Article published in the edition of the 10.02.07.
Elections 2007: The World on your premise for 16?/mois
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