Sejdiu: Partition leads to instability

The idea of a partition of Kosovo is detrimental not only to the interests of all Kosovo’s citizens, but to the region too, says Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu. “We’re trying to establish good relations with Serbia, and also help all Kosovo’s citizens, regardless of ethnicity, feel good and feel like first-class citizens,” Sejdiu told daily Danas. Sejdiu: Partition leads to instability The Kosovo president highlighted the explicit instability in the region and, in that context, he said that partition of the province could open up the same debate in Macedonia, Montenegro and in all countries with similar problems, which could be fatal for security in the whole region. Explaining why the option of partition was unacceptable to him, Sejdiu said that “Kosovo is a sovereign and independent state recognized by 50 countries around the world.””A partition of Kosovo would not constitute a solution to the problem, and would only aggravate it,” he said. “Such a move would be detrimental to the Serb community in Kosovo, and would open the possibility to other countries in the region to try and solve certain similar problems in the same manner, which would undoubtedly trigger widespread instability,” concluded the president. Meanwhile, EULEX Chief Yves de Kermabon has stated that the EU mission is of a technical nature and is not linked to the issue of Kosovo's status, and that its goal is to promote the rule of law and protect the rights of the province's citizens. De Kermabon said in a statement to Voice of America that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 was EULEX’s legal framework, which was why the mission was working under the auspices of the UN and in line with that document. Moreover, EULEX operates as an “EU joint action,” which means that 27 states had decided together to send the mission to Kosovo, said the French general. “With those two strong legal bases we believe that we are in a good position to cooperate with all the citizens of Kosovo,” stressed de Kermabon. He said that the deployment of EULEX had been postponed, meaning that the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Kosovo government were still the competent authorities. Fatmir Sejdiu (FoNet, archive)

Sejdiu: Partition leads to instability

The Kosovo president highlighted the explicit instability in the region and, in that context, he said that partition of the province could open up the same debate in Macedonia, Montenegro and in all countries with similar problems, which could be fatal for security in the whole region.

Explaining why the option of partition was unacceptable to him, Sejdiu said that “Kosovo is a sovereign and independent state recognized by 50 countries around the world.””A partition of Kosovo would not constitute a solution to the problem, and would only aggravate it,” he said.

“Such a move would be detrimental to the Serb community in Kosovo, and would open the possibility to other countries in the region to try and solve certain similar problems in the same manner, which would undoubtedly trigger widespread instability,” concluded the president.

Meanwhile, EULEX Chief Yves de Kermabon has stated that the EU mission is of a technical nature and is not linked to the issue of Kosovo's status, and that its goal is to promote the rule of law and protect the rights of the province's citizens.

De Kermabon said in a statement to Voice of America that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 was EULEX’s legal framework, which was why the mission was working under the auspices of the UN and in line with that document.

Moreover, EULEX operates as an “EU joint action,” which means that 27 states had decided together to send the mission to Kosovo, said the French general.

“With those two strong legal bases we believe that we are in a good position to cooperate with all the citizens of Kosovo,” stressed de Kermabon.

He said that the deployment of EULEX had been postponed, meaning that the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Kosovo government were still the competent authorities.