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New stage in Kosovo status resolution process must begin
Belgrade,
1 June 2007
Serbian Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic stated today that the Kosovo-Metohija status resolution process at the UN has returned to square one, which is why a new stage must begin in which major elements of UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari’s proposal should be abandoned.
Slobodan Samardzic
Speaking about the new draft resolution on Kosovo-Metohija, presented by the US on May 31 in New York, and bearing in mind Russia’s repeated opposition to it, Samardzic told the Tanjug news agency that the draft resolution is practically the same and comprises 99% of the text of the resolution proposed two weeks earlier.
He said it is obviously impossible to have UN Security Council members, especially permanent member countries, reach a minimum consensus on the mater.
We are therefore again somewhere at the beginning. It is necessary to begin a new process, a new stage in the resolution of this issue in an honest and open way, said Samardzic.
This stage would imply leaving behind the major elements of Ahtisaari’s plan, which proposes independence for Kosovo-Metohija.
The Minister stressed that participants of the Kosovo status settlement process must turn towards more realistic solutions which imply a compromise solution, the participation of Belgrade and Pristina and respect of international law.
It is the last opportunity to see that it is not possible to change the situation in the province by force, as well as to do that at the expense of international law, he said.
After the failed US initiative, diplomats in the UN are expected to start solving the Kosovo issue more seriously, in the longer run and in a completely open way.
Samardzic described the announced postponement of Kosovo issue settlement in the western circles as reality and noted that stands of Russia, China and other UN temporary members that oppose the province’s independence and Serbia’s position must be respected as well.
Belgrade was constructive and gave a series of good initiatives for the Kosovo issue settlement, Samardzic said.
Speaking on Belgrade’s initiative for continuation of talks with Pristina, Samardzic said that it would be an approach without artificial deadlines.
He said it is obviously impossible to have UN Security Council members, especially permanent member countries, reach a minimum consensus on the mater.
We are therefore again somewhere at the beginning. It is necessary to begin a new process, a new stage in the resolution of this issue in an honest and open way, said Samardzic.
This stage would imply leaving behind the major elements of Ahtisaari’s plan, which proposes independence for Kosovo-Metohija.
The Minister stressed that participants of the Kosovo status settlement process must turn towards more realistic solutions which imply a compromise solution, the participation of Belgrade and Pristina and respect of international law.
It is the last opportunity to see that it is not possible to change the situation in the province by force, as well as to do that at the expense of international law, he said.
After the failed US initiative, diplomats in the UN are expected to start solving the Kosovo issue more seriously, in the longer run and in a completely open way.
Samardzic described the announced postponement of Kosovo issue settlement in the western circles as reality and noted that stands of Russia, China and other UN temporary members that oppose the province’s independence and Serbia’s position must be respected as well.
Belgrade was constructive and gave a series of good initiatives for the Kosovo issue settlement, Samardzic said.
Speaking on Belgrade’s initiative for continuation of talks with Pristina, Samardzic said that it would be an approach without artificial deadlines.
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