Security Council discusses Kosovo

Security Council discusses Kosovo

Serbian team coordinator Slobodan Samardžić told B92 he did not believe UN Special envoy Martti Ahtisaari will make any significant recommendations related to Kosovo status. “Such recommendations would now probably lead to no specific results without prior agreement by Russia and China. It is customary in diplomatic circles and in this type of decision making process not to put forward propositions that have not been well prepared.  What this may be is a hint as to Ahtisaari’s wish for the ideal outcome, that the issue be solved during his mandate, but I’m not sure his wish will come true”, Samaržić said.

On the other hand, Serbian parliament has asked that the new Serbian constitution be adopted as soon as possible, defining Kosovo as a part of Serbia enjoying essential autonomy. Although they support the negotiating team members, opposition parties have demanded an answer from the government concerning its actions in case Kosovo does become independent.

President Boris Tadić said some of these statements can be interpreted as saber-rattling by some in the international community.  “Broadcasting these messages from Serbia diminishes our negotiating capability and my appeal to all who represent this country’s interests is not to send out such messages. Serbia does not wish to go to war, Serbia wishes for a long-term peace, since that is the only way we can secure our interests in Kosovo. A different scenario played out at the end of the 20th century and we all witnessed it. The consequences are still evident in refugee camps scattered all over Serbia, in Belgrade and in Kosovo”, Tadić said.

Priština’s reaction

B92 correspondent reports from Priština that Serbian parliament’s call to define Kosovo as a part of Serbia in the new constitution has not caused Albanian officials’ reactions. The central point of interest for the Kosovo political circles in Russian president Vladimir Putin’s statement that Russia may veto Kosovo’s independence at the UN Security Council.  

Ismet Hajdari reports for B92 that the Kosovo negotiating team has started its preparations for the new round of talks, scheduled for September 15. The team’s spokesman said the Serb side is to blame for the failure of the previous round. “Belgrade seeks Gazimestan area to be designated a protected zone, even though it encompasses 200 to 300 Albanian households. That is nonsense and we have already made this clear in Vienna”, the spokesman said.

Local media in Priština have reported Vojislav Koštunica’s speech in the parliament in detail, however, none of the officials reacted to it, even though adoption of a new Serbian constitution defining Kosovo as a part of Serbia would render Vienna talks meaningless. Commenting on Vladimir Putin’s statement, the media say this has been “the most open Russian threat to date”. The negotiating team still believes Russia will tow Contact Group line.

Rosemary di Carlo and Stefan Lehne in Priština

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, and EU Kosovo status talks Envoy Stefan Lehne are visiting Priština today. They are scheduled to meet with the Kosovo institutions’ representatives, the negotiating team members, and Serb and other communities’ leaders.