"Kosovo independence irreversible"

The former UN mediator in the Kosovo status talks, Martti Ahtisaari, was in Pristina on Monday. Addressing a ceremonial session of the Kosovo assembly marking the first anniversary of since the proclamation of the Kosovo constitution, he said that the "acknowledgments of Kosovo's independence from all across the world prove that that independence is an irreversible process". "Kosovo independence irreversible" Ahtisaari went on to say that the "recognition of a new reality - the independence of Kosovo - facilitates the stability of the region, the Balkans and also of Europe", Beta reports. Ahtisaari said Kosovo is on the path to becoming a "free, democratic and multiethnic state". Speaking about Kosovo's "major achievements thus far", the Finnish diplomat cited the establishing of the Constitutional Court, opening diplomatic offices in a number of important countries and establishing "partnership ties with representatives of numerous states". Ahtisaari went on to say that Kosovo is "still facing many challenges, explaining that institutions need to go through a transformation process, ensure transparency and be accountable for their work, stressing that activities on Kosovo's recognition should continue". Ahtisaari, the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, called on Kosovo Serbs "to take advantage of the situation", and, "for the sake of their children" become an important factor in resolving problems and also to "join the steps that Kosovo is undertaking on its path to a new future", the news agency reported. "Serbia and Kosovo are neighbors," Ahtisaari was quoted as saying. "Serbia should accept the new reality and Belgrade and Pristina should find possibilities to cooperate." The former mediator also called on the EU "to reach a joint position on Kosovo, which would help Kosovo in its efforts toward a European future". Reports from Pristina said that Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu "decorated Ahtisaari with the 'Golden Independence Medal' for his contribution to Kosovo's independence". Martti Ahtisaari (FoNet, archive) "Ahtisaari plan brought nothing but trouble" Kosovo Ministry State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic says that it is all very well for Martti Ahtisaari to be basking in the glory of his reception in Pristina to mark the first anniversary of the adoption of the Kosovo Constitution, but that he should know that another big community, the Serbs, also live in Kosovo, who are anything but pleased to see him. “The plan that Ahtisaari drew up and proposed has caused a lot of trouble,“ Ivanovic told KiM radio. Commenting on Ahtisaari’s visit to the province, he said that his plan would probably go down as one of the projects categorically rejected by the Serb community. As far as the decentralization process was concerned, the state secretary said that the Serbs, particularly those south of the Ibar, would insist on receiving new municipalities, and that this did not have to be part of Ahtisaari’s plan. “The formation of new municipalities could be the key to the Serbs’ survival south of the Ibar, and that shouldn’t be underestimated,“ he explained. Ivanovic predicted that the Council of Europe could be called upon to rework that part of the plan, before presenting it as its own.

"Kosovo independence irreversible"

Ahtisaari went on to say that the "recognition of a new reality - the independence of Kosovo - facilitates the stability of the region, the Balkans and also of Europe", Beta reports.

Ahtisaari said Kosovo is on the path to becoming a "free, democratic and multiethnic state".

Speaking about Kosovo's "major achievements thus far", the Finnish diplomat cited the establishing of the Constitutional Court, opening diplomatic offices in a number of important countries and establishing "partnership ties with representatives of numerous states".

Ahtisaari went on to say that Kosovo is "still facing many challenges, explaining that institutions need to go through a transformation process, ensure transparency and be accountable for their work, stressing that activities on Kosovo's recognition should continue".

Ahtisaari, the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, called on Kosovo Serbs "to take advantage of the situation", and, "for the sake of their children" become an important factor in resolving problems and also to "join the steps that Kosovo is undertaking on its path to a new future", the news agency reported.

"Serbia and Kosovo are neighbors," Ahtisaari was quoted as saying.

"Serbia should accept the new reality and Belgrade and Priština should find possibilities to cooperate."

The former mediator also called on the EU "to reach a joint position on Kosovo, which would help Kosovo in its efforts toward a European future".

Reports from Priština said that Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu "decorated Ahtisaari with the 'Golden Independence Medal' for his contribution to Kosovo's independence".

"Ahtisaari plan brought nothing but trouble"

Kosovo Ministry State Secretary Oliver Ivanović says that it is all very well for Martti Ahtisaari to be basking in the glory of his reception in Priština to mark the first anniversary of the adoption of the Kosovo Constitution, but that he should know that another big community, the Serbs, also live in Kosovo, who are anything but pleased to see him.

“The plan that Ahtisaari drew up and proposed has caused a lot of trouble,“ Ivanović told KiM radio.

Commenting on Ahtisaari’s visit to the province, he said that his plan would probably go down as one of the projects categorically rejected by the Serb community.

As far as the decentralization process was concerned, the state secretary said that the Serbs, particularly those south of the Ibar, would insist on receiving new municipalities, and that this did not have to be part of Ahtisaari’s plan.

“The formation of new municipalities could be the key to the Serbs’ survival south of the Ibar, and that shouldn’t be underestimated,“ he explained.

Ivanović predicted that the Council of Europe could be called upon to rework that part of the plan, before presenting it as its own.