"Chances of new approach to Kosovo"

"Chances of new approach to Kosovo"

“Serbia expects that the two presidents will focus on solving the Kosovo issue by means of launching new negotiations, aim of which would be to reach a compromise solution acceptable to both sides, in line with fundamental principles of international law,” he stressed.

Koštunica added that Serbia displayed full readiness to engage in a new round of talks and assume its portion of responsibility in order to reach agreement on a long-term, sustainable solution that will guarantee stability for the entire region.

The two-day meeting at the Bush family home in Kennebunkport, Maine, is set to begin Sunday.

Slobodan Pavlović, a veteran Washington correspondent, told B92 he did not expect the Kosovo issue to top the agenda of the Bush-Putin meeting.

“The two presidents have other priorities to discuss, including the missile shield issue, conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and NATO enlargement,” he said.

“Bearing in mind their position over Kosovo, the topic will likely be addressed in the second part of the meeting on Monday,” Pavlović argued.

In his opinion, both the U.S. and Russia advocated continuation of Kosovo talks.

“What if the fresh four-month round of negotiations proved fruitless,” he wondered, adding that he did not believe the U.S. would change its starting position.

“A very interesting initiative appeared in the meantime, and Russia will have to provide a concrete answer to it. Namely, the U.S. Congress might display its good will and concern for making positive progress in Kosovo by sending troops to the province during the negotiating period to support peacekeeping forces in Kosovo.”

“I would like to remind you that the Russian troops were the first to arrive in Kosovo after the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement that ended the 1999 Kosovo conflict, but they did not stay long,” he added.

Pavlović went on to explain that after KFOR was formed in 2002 the Russian Duma decided to withdraw its troops from Kosovo, allegedly due to high expenses of the mission.

“It is a widespread belief that Russian forces should return to Kosovo, since the international mission’s key interest is to protect ethnic minorities there," Pavlović concluded.

Thaci: Kosovo independent regardless of Russia

Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK) leader Hashim Thaci says Kosovo would attain independence "regardless of Russia’s decision."

“We will be independent at any rate, as we plan to develop our country with full success,“ he said Saturday, according to Priština newspapers.

Thaci added that Kosovo was lucky to have the U.S. and its President George Bush pushing for acknowledging reality in the province.

“I am convinced that the United States and the European Union would in the end convince Russia to recognize independence of Kosovo,” he said.