"Kosovo solution unlikely this year"

U.S. Troika envoy Frank Wisner said Thursday it was unlikely that Kosovo's status will be resolved this year. "Quite simply, there is no time for that," Wisner told a Voice of America broadcast in Albanian, explaining that the schedule of events linked to Kosovo was too tight for a final solution to be reached this year. "Kosovo solution unlikely this year" The U.S. envoy explained that the Contract Group mediating Troika will submit a report to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by December 10. After that, Wisner expects that the UN chief to discuss Kosovo with Contact Group member states. Wisner also did not rule out further discussions in the UN Security Council. Also Thursday, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn accused Russia of "selfish unilateralism" for threatening to veto a UN Security Council move to grant independence to Kosovo. "There is no place for selfish unilateralism like the threat of a unilateral veto at the UN Security Council," he told students in Paris, according to a copy of his speech distributed in Brussels by his staff. "We call on other partners in the international community to adopt a responsible attitude that can facilitate a negotiated solution," he said. "In the end, the international community will be judged by its ability to use responsible and effective multilateralism," he said, in what AFP called "a veiled reference to the United States." "Kosovo will not be the 51st state of the United States, and Serbia is not trying to join the Russian Federation!" "The future of Serbia and Kosovo lie in the European Union," Rehn said. The Troika diplomats during a recent meeting in New York (FoNet) Solana: Kosovo deal possible by Dec.10 In Brussels Wednesday, Javier Solana said "prospects exist for an agreement on Kosovo to be reached before December 10," Beta reported. Such an outcome would be achieved through negotiations, the EU foreign policy chief added, and said that the EU would be ready to send its mission to Kosovo when the UN decides to withdraw UNMIK. Speaking before the Foreign Political Committee of the European Parliament, Solana pointed out that negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, with the mediation of the three envoys, was "moving forward" and that there were prospects for an agreement to be reached by December 10. He said that, after that date, the three envoys of the Contact Group will submit and report to the UN Security Council, adding that it was "still not known" whether a new UN resolution on Kosovo will be adopted. Solana also said that the EU must be "prepared for any outcome," and for deploying its judicial and police mission in Kosovo, which, he reminded, is supported by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. He did not know "what will be the legal foundation for the EU mission," but that it is clear that the EU, when the UN decides that it is time for UNMIK to be replaced by an EU mission, will be prepared to respond "properly and on time." The EU high representative said it was very good that the new negotiations were initiated with the mediation of the three Contact Group's envoys, although he estimated that the meeting between Belgrade and Pristina, held in New York at the top level on September 28, had brought "nothing dramatic." However, Solana cited as a good sign the adoption of the New York Declaration and the fact that this was the first direct meeting between Belgrade and Pristina. He said it remained to be seen what will be the outcome of the general elections in Kosovo, scheduled for November 17, but pointed out that negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina would continue regardless of the elections. The EU high representative estimated that "it is probable that elections will be also held in Serbia by the end of the year," pointing out that one should carefully monitor what will happen on December 11.

"Kosovo solution unlikely this year"

The U.S. envoy explained that the Contract Group mediating Troika will submit a report to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by December 10.

After that, Wisner expects that the UN chief to discuss Kosovo with Contact Group member states.

Wisner also did not rule out further discussions in the UN Security Council.

Also Thursday, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn accused Russia of "selfish unilateralism" for threatening to veto a UN Security Council move to grant independence to Kosovo.

"There is no place for selfish unilateralism like the threat of a unilateral veto at the UN Security Council," he told students in Paris, according to a copy of his speech distributed in Brussels by his staff.

"We call on other partners in the international community to adopt a responsible attitude that can facilitate a negotiated solution," he said.

"In the end, the international community will be judged by its ability to use responsible and effective multilateralism," he said, in what AFP called "a veiled reference to the United States."

"Kosovo will not be the 51st state of the United States, and Serbia is not trying to join the Russian Federation!"

"The future of Serbia and Kosovo lie in the European Union," Rehn said.

Solana: Kosovo deal possible by Dec.10

In Brussels Wednesday, Javier Solana said "prospects exist for an agreement on Kosovo to be reached before December 10," Beta reported.

Such an outcome would be achieved through negotiations, the EU foreign policy chief added, and said that the EU would be ready to send its mission to Kosovo when the UN decides to withdraw UNMIK.

Speaking before the Foreign Political Committee of the European Parliament, Solana pointed out that negotiations between Belgrade and Priština, with the mediation of the three envoys, was "moving forward" and that there were prospects for an agreement to be reached by December 10.

He said that, after that date, the three envoys of the Contact Group will submit and report to the UN Security Council, adding that it was "still not known" whether a new UN resolution on Kosovo will be adopted.

Solana also said that the EU must be "prepared for any outcome," and for deploying its judicial and police mission in Kosovo, which, he reminded, is supported by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

He did not know "what will be the legal foundation for the EU mission," but that it is clear that the EU, when the UN decides that it is time for UNMIK to be replaced by an EU mission, will be prepared to respond "properly and on time."

The EU high representative said it was very good that the new negotiations were initiated with the mediation of the three Contact Group's envoys, although he estimated that the meeting between Belgrade and Priština, held in New York at the top level on September 28, had brought "nothing dramatic."

However, Solana cited as a good sign the adoption of the New York Declaration and the fact that this was the first direct meeting between Belgrade and Priština.

He said it remained to be seen what will be the outcome of the general elections in Kosovo, scheduled for November 17, but pointed out that negotiations between Belgrade and Priština would continue regardless of the elections.

The EU high representative estimated that "it is probable that elections will be also held in Serbia by the end of the year," pointing out that one should carefully monitor what will happen on December 11.