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New round of technical negotiations begins in Vienna

Vienna, 7 September 2006

A new two-day round of technical negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina began at the Daun Kinsky Palace in Vienna this morning, where international mediators will attempt to bring the two sides closer on issues of decentralisation, protection of religious and cultural heritage, human rights and protection of minorities in Kosovo-Metohija.

Author: FoNet

The meeting will be chaired by Deputy Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the talks on the status of Kosovo and Metohija Alber Roan, after a long pause due to illness.

In the first part of today’s meeting Roan will open the debate on competencies of municipalities with Serb majority in Kosovo-Metohija and their cooperation with municipalities in central Serbia and authorities in Belgrade.

The United Nations Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the future status process for Kosovo (UNOSEK) has prepared a document for today’s meeting on principles of decentralisation, drafted on the basis of an agreement reached between Ahtisaari and representatives of the Pristina negotiating team two weeks ago.

In the latter part of the day the issue of borders of new municipalities, including Kosovska Mitrovica, will be discussed.

Head of the Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija Sanda Raskovic-Ivic has said that Belgrade will retain its position on keeping the present five municipalities, while making efforts to form 12 new municipalities with Serb majority, and three multiethnic ones – Sredska, Belo Polje and Gora.

Coordinator in Belgrade’s negotiating team and advisor to the Serbian Prime Minister Slobodan Samardzic said last night in Vienna that technical negotiations on Kosovo-Metohija are being made difficult by the events being foretold regarding the province.

I am afraid that talks have been scheduled for the beginning of September in the shadow of larger international denouements, such as the announcement of recommendations to be made by Special Envoy Marti Ahtisaari concerning the province, and it is being speculated that he will make recommendations for status, said Samardzic.

According to Samardzic, that hinders normal talks on technical issues.

We shall wait until September 22, when a UN Security Council session will take place at which Ahtisaari will speak. However, in my opinion he will not put forward any concrete proposal, nor will any proposal be adopted by then, added Samardzic.