German foreign minister believes in compromise

Frank-Walter Steinmeier says a negotiated solution for Kosovo’s status is still a possibility. The German foreign minister met in Berlin yesterday with Kosovo negotiating team representatives, led by Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu. German foreign minister believes in compromise Sejdiu said after the meeting that Pristina would coordinate its moves with the international community after the end of negotiations on December 10. Steinmeier, at a brief press conference last night, did not want to comment on Germany and the EU’s possible response to a Kosovo Albanian unilateral proclamation of independence. “That would be a sign of a poor style of political work, if the Troika - whose mandate should last another month - were disavowed by prejudging their results or by considering their efforts a failure,” Steinmeier said. “So, it should stay at the point where we are giving the negotiations with the Troika a chance to succeed, even if those chances are small,” Steinmeier said. Sejdiu, asked when the Kosovo institutions planned on making the necessary decision for a proclamation of independence, said that “after the Troika report is submitted on December 10, Pristina will coordinate its actions with its partners in the EU and NATO.” “Our vision is for Kosovo to be an independent, modern state, not only for the Albanian majority, but for all minorities, for the Serbian minority as well,” Sejdiu said, adding that Pristina was prepared to work on implementing the status plan proposed by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari. Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku was also in Berlin, along with President of the Kosovo Democratic Party Hashim Thaci. American President George Bush is expected to discuss the Kosovo situation in Texas today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

German foreign minister believes in compromise

Sejdiu said after the meeting that Priština would coordinate its moves with the international community after the end of negotiations on December 10.

Steinmeier, at a brief press conference last night, did not want to comment on Germany and the EU’s possible response to a Kosovo Albanian unilateral proclamation of independence.

“That would be a sign of a poor style of political work, if the Troika - whose mandate should last another month - were disavowed by prejudging their results or by considering their efforts a failure,” Steinmeier said.

“So, it should stay at the point where we are giving the negotiations with the Troika a chance to succeed, even if those chances are small,” Steinmeier said.

Sejdiu, asked when the Kosovo institutions planned on making the necessary decision for a proclamation of independence, said that “after the Troika report is submitted on December 10, Priština will coordinate its actions with its partners in the EU and NATO.”

“Our vision is for Kosovo to be an independent, modern state, not only for the Albanian majority, but for all minorities, for the Serbian minority as well,” Sejdiu said, adding that Priština was prepared to work on implementing the status plan proposed by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku was also in Berlin, along with President of the Kosovo Democratic Party Hashim Thaci.

American President George Bush is expected to discuss the Kosovo situation in Texas today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.