G8 leaders to discuss Kosovo

G8 leaders to discuss Kosovo

U.S. ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, and his German counterpart Thomas Matussek have earlier announced that the vote on a new Kosovo resolution would be postponed depending on the outcome of today’s discussions.

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, however, expressed reservations as to the possibility that the summit might yield progress on the Kosovo issue.

In an interview with several German television stations, Merkel said that different positions on Kosovo “could not be expected to disappear overnight.” She added that it was important that the exchange of arguments on the subject was ongoing.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Daniel Fried told today’s Spiegel online that Kosovo was not a precedent for separatist movements in Georgia and criticized Russia’s stance on the issue.

“The story about a precedent is dangerous as has a destabilizing effect,” Fried said, adding that the United Stated supported Kosovo’s independence, and believed that this position was identical to that of the EU.

Kosovo Albanians focus on summit

Kosovo Albanians are hopeful that the G8 summit will bring about Kosovo's final status resolution.

"We hope that the other members of G8 will succeed in persuading Russia," said Kosovo's Prime Minister Agim Ceku on Wednesday.

The great powers have different stances regarding the status of the disputed territory.

The United States and the European Union are supporting a United Nations plan for Kosovo's supervised independence, drafted by Martti Ahtisaari. Russia, on the other hand, is categorically rejecting the plan.