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Majority of Security Council members advocate compromise solution for Kosovo-Metohija

Belgrade, 15 September 2006

Head of the Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija Sanda Raskovic-Ivic said in an interview for the daily “Vecernje Novosti” that the debate in the UN Security Council dedicated to Kosovo-Metohija was a balanced one and dominating subjects were standards and human rights. Majority of the Security Council member countries favoured a compromise and a thorough solution for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija, without setting unrealistic deadlines.

Sanda Raskovic-Ivic

The Serbian government’s website presents excerpts from the interview.

On the position of some Security Council members that Belgrade should encourage Serbs to participate in activities of institutions in Kosovo-Metohija:

Russian Ambassador Churkin made the excellent observation that the majority community should try to integrate Kosovo Serbs in the institutions of the province. I said that Serbs are not boycotting for the sake of a boycott, rather mechanisms should be found which will reassure them that their voice will be heard. Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija are now being represented by a coalition which is supported by 0.3% of the electorate. These representatives are not relevant to Serbs in Kosovo. Decentralisation is the key factor for a solution of the issue of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, and participation in institutions. After decentralisation there will be sense in holding elections.

Is there unity among the international community when it comes to the issue of Kosovo-Metohija?

There is no unity either in the Contact Group, or the Security Council. Russia, backed by China, is firm in the stand for respecting human rights and territorial integrity. Member countries of the Security Council, and the Contact Group – the US, Britain and France – advocate the fulfilment of standards, and a solution which is in accordance with the wishes of the peoples of Kosovo-Metohija. There is an entire range of opinions in between. In the Contact Group Russia opposes a hasty and imposed solution, and Italy, Germany and to some degree France are close to that position. I expect that this discord in the Contact Group regarding time-limit and manner in which the future status of Kosovo-Metohija is determined will continue.

Is it possible to reach agreement on decentralisation by the end of the year?

Agreement on decentralisation and protection of religious and cultural heritage can be reached if the Albanian side shows a bit more flexibility. Negotiations on the rights of communities will continue for some time, as will negotiations on economic questions. There is still a huge difference in positions in the negotiations on status. I expect that the unrealistic deadline of the end of 2006 for determining the status will be given up, and a compromise solution will be found in which each side will be equally satisfied, or equally dissatisfied.

Was the draft for a new resolution on Kosovo-Metohija discussed in New York?

There was no mention of a draft. I had bilateral meetings with representatives of Russia, China, Argentina, Peru, Slovakia, Greece and Japan. No one among them mentioned it. Every one supported negotiations and a compromise solution, without deadlines. I did not meet with representatives of the US and Britain, but there are countries which could give the signal that something like that exists.