Koštunica: UN will block Kosovo’s independence

Koštunica: UN will block Kosovo’s independence

According to the prime minister, the team will present a plan for the future administration of the province within Serbia, “in all its segments.”

“Our positions are based on the Serbian Constitution, the UN Charter and recognized universal principles which are the foundation of international order, peace and stability”, Koštunica told the agency.

“We will be utmost constructive and warn in time through these talks that it is necessary to adjust the entire Ahtisaari's proposal to the existing international norms”, he said.

“Otherwise, it is clear that the UN Security Council will reject any attempt to take away 15 percent of territory from Serbia, a sovereign state and UN member”, Koštunica concluded.

Rohan: Serbia loses nothing

Serbia loses nothing under the terms of Ahtisaari’s plan, the deputy UN envoy said accusing Belgrade of having taken a “one-sided approach”.

Vienna daily Kurier quoted Albert Rohan as saying, “Kosovo hasn’t been administered by Serbia since 1999. Thus, little will change”.

“We want to create the conditions under which Kosovo citizens could lead normal lives. If Kosovo Serbs took an unbiased look at our recommendations, they would found no grounds to reject them”, Rohan said, adding that two thirds of Ahtisaari’s status proposal aim at providing protection for the Serbian minority in Kosovo.

Rohan believes that the final round of talks in Vienna “is unlikely to lead to a compromise”.

“There’s no sustainable alternative to Ahtisaari’s plan. The current state of affairs cannot continue”, Rohan said.

Rohan argued that the conflicting sides could destabilize the province without a tangible plan for its future, and stir up tensions which might jeopardize the whole region.

Following the settlement of Kosovo’s status “the whole region can focus on the real problems, such as economic development, modernized administration, and steps toward the EU”, Rohan concluded.