| Solution to immediately follow elections |
| 21 November 2006 | 15:18
| Source:
B92 |
BELGRADE --
Michael Polt said that the status proposal will be given to both Belgrade and Priština several days after the elections.
 | (FoNet)
|
The US ambassador to Belgrade told Radio B92 that Belgrade and Priština would play critical roles in the process of finding a Kosovo status solution, which means that the two sides would be responsible for the implementation of all agreements reached.
The international community would play a central role; its responsibility would be to offer security and political presence in Kosovo.
Polt said that Kosovo is high on the list of America’s priorities in Europe. He also confirmed the Contact Group’s stance that the Kosovo status proposal will be revealed as soon as the parliamentary elections in Serbia are held.
“After the postponement, this means right after the elections, several days, a week or two, but soon after the elections, the two sides will be presented with Mr. Ahtisaari’s proposal. After that we wish to quickly continue towards the completion of the process.” Polt said.
Polt also said that the preservation of territorial integrity is not a central question in the Kosovo discussions.
“Should we protect the territorial integrity of every regime that chooses to kill its own citizens?” Polt asked, adding that it is in the international community’s best interest to offer everyone the same rights.
“Belgrade will have to live with the results of the Kosovo agreement, as will Priština. Both sides can choose to continue resistance against it, fight against it and live in constant animosity towards such an agreement. If Belgrade rejects the reached agreement for Kosovo and says that they will resist it, I would like to know if the people of Serbia really want that kind of a future.” Polt explained.
The US ambassador said that the possibility for violence breaking out in Kosovo still exists, but that it will not be tolerated.
“A violent past exists in Kosovo and we cannot forget who started that past violence in the 1990s. It was the Milošević regime.” Polt said.
“And of course there could be violence as a result of the agreement. I think that it would be a great mistake for whatever groups starts the violence, because it will not be tolerated by the international community.” he said.
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