Still no Kosovo solution in UN Security Council

Still no Kosovo solution in UN Security Council

“It is now completely clear that we have nothing to expect until July 1. The main reason for this scenario is the trip of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the U.S. Even the Americans want to wait to see what the outcome of this trip will be,” Steinmeier said, according to daily Večernje Novosti.

“A Russian veto in the UN Security Council would lead to a dangerous situation regarding the EU’s unity,” Steinmeier said, adding that recognizing Kosovo independence unilaterally was "not a good path to take".

“If that does happen, I do not know whether the EU will remain united,” he said.

Jeremić: We would ignore unilateral declaration of independence

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić said Wednesday that Serbia would ignore any unilateral recognition of Kosovo because the disputed province “will stay part of Serbia”.

Jeremić rejected a plan by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari that foresees eventual independence for Kosovo and recommends the province should have its own national symbols including a flag and anthem.

“Ahtisaari's plan is unacceptable for Serbia,” Jeremić told reporters during a visit to Stockholm.

He said the plan “infringes the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Serbia,” but added that Belgrade was prepared to continue the dialogue in this quest for a compromise solution.

Asked how Serbia would react to a unilateral recognition of Kosovo, Jeremić said: “We would ignore it. We would just not recognize this because for us Kosovo is a part of Serbia and will stay part of Serbia.”

Polt: No compromise over independence

U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Michael Polt says independence is the only solution for Kosovo, about which “there can be no compromise”.

“What there can be no compromise over is the final outcome which will be supervised independence for Kosovo. There is no other solution. The United States and our European partners have made this clear,” Polt told journalists in Belgrade’s Media Center.

According to him, what can be done is to enable Serbia, Kosovo and the international community to use that solution to work toward the most important goal, improving the lives of Kosovo residents.

“Let’s put behind the status issue and engage in problems faced by ethnic minorities in Kosovo,” Polt told the press.

Gusenbauer: No alternative

Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer has reproached Russia for its stance over Kosovo’s future status, at the same time reiterating the Ahtisaari plan had “no alternative”.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin is constantly offering comparisons, to South Ossetia for example. But, Kosovo is a unique case because the international community is responsible for it,” Gusenbauer told the Suddeutsche Zeitung.

“In essence, Ahtisaari’s plan has no alternative, it is only a matter of what needs to be done in order for the Serbs not to take the agreement as humiliation. Besides, economic and social future for both Kosovo’s Albanians and Serbs needs to be considered,” Gusebauer concluded.