Troika-mediated Kosovo talks fall through

The Contact Group Troika has called on sides to continue discussions after the talks under its mediation failed. The last round of the Troika-led talks on the future status of Kosovo ended today in Baden, with no breakthrough. Troika-mediated Kosovo talks fall through The negotiations between the Serbian authorities and the Kosovo Albanians, restarted in August and mediated by the EU, Russian and U.S. envoys, have concluded with a three-day round in Austria. No progress and no success have been reported in the closing meeting between President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, and Kosovo leaders Fatmir Sejdiu and Agim Ceku, with Wolfgang Ischinger, Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko and Frank Wisner. In a news conference in Vienna today, EU's Ischinger said that although Belgrade and Pristina failed to reach agreement, the talks represented a chance to build trust between the two sides. "They had a chance to communicate not only during official meetings but also informally. Hashim Thaci, Vuk Jeremic, Agim Ceku and Boris Tadic spent hours talking during the two dinners we had together," the German diplomat revealed, and voiced hope that this level of communication will be maintained. Ischinger also said he believed the EU demonstrated "total unity" toward the negotiating process. "I have had the greatest possible support from all 27 EU members and I am convinced the EU will be able to remain united facing this challenge," he told reporters at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The U.S. envoy, Frank Wisner, said that the status quo was not sustainable in Kosovo, and added he hoped the problem "would soon be solved". Wisner stressed there were tensions over the province's status, but that Belgrade and Pristina remained committed to peaceful resolution of the problem. Russia's Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko said the Troika will present the UN secretary-general with a report, while the conclusions on what to do next will be made by "the UN Security Council and countries' governments." Russia remains committed to a compromise solution for Kosovo, believing only this outcome could provide the region with stability, peace and security, he said. Botsan-Kharchenko also lauded what he saw as constructive atmosphere and quality of talks in the past three days. Moscow considers Kosovo as one of the key issues in Europe, the Russian diplomat stressed. The Contact Group Troika in news conference today (Beta) Belgrade team: Independence illegal At the end of the talks, President Boris Tadic said Serbia would not recognized Kosovo's independence as such an outcome would breach international law and destabilize the country, region, and Europe. "There was no compromise, but that does not mean that Serbia considers all compromise possibilities exhausted," the president said Wednesday. Prime Minister Vojislav ostunica told journalists Serbia has done everything to offer various essential autonomy solutions, considering that a declaration of Kosovo's independence would break international law. "There were attempts to raise other issues, such as relations between two states, modeled on the two Germanys, which runs contrary to UN SC Resolution 1244 and international documents," he said, adding that such proposals were not presented "by the Troika as a whole". Kostunica also noted that the Kosovo status talks have been brought back to where they started. "The whole process started in the UN Security Council and that is where it must conclude," the prime minister said, reminding that Serbia is an internationally recognized, democratic country, that will not allow this to be brought into question by unilateral acts. Meanwhile, the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo and likely the province's next premier, Hashim Thaci, says the talks between Belgrade and Pristina are over. "We will make the next moves in consultation with Washington and Brussels," he said. Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu told journalists following the final meeting in Baden that the three-day talks represented an additional possibility for further work on the Ahtisaari plan. "Unfortunately there has been no agreement and we will establish cooperation with the international community. We have said and proved that independence is the beginning and the end of the vision regarding the Kosovo status. Our wish is to build a democratic state for all our citizens," Sejdiu said. After yesterday’s discussions, Kostunica said that all of the arguments are on Serbia’s side, which stands for upholding international law. Kostunica said that the negotiations have been unbalanced thus far because one side wants international laws to be respected, while the other is looking for a solution that violates those laws. “The negotiations lasted two years and they have to end the way they began, at the United Nations Security Council. The process will not end now, in Baden, nor on December 3, when the Troika will be coming to Belgrade and Pristina, and it will not end on December 10, when the Troika will report to the United Nations Secretary General. It can only end before the UN Security Council,” Kostunica said. Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku, on the other hand, said that the talks were nearing their end. Asked by a reporter whether Kosovo will be independent by March, Ceku said that it there will be independence "even earlier". “We will see soon, our goal is to have Kosovo independence, based on the plan of Martti Ahtisaari in cooperation with the international community by the end of this year,” Ceku said. During yesterday’s negotiations, President Boris Tadic described Serbia’s autonomy proposal in detail. The plan which would give Albanians a large amount of authority while keeping Kosovo under Serbian sovereignty. Serbia would keep the rights of conducting foreign and defense policy, border control, protection of Serbian historical sites and representation in the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe. According to this proposal, rejected by Pristina, Kosovo would be able to have access to international financial institutions and other international and regional organizations. All eyes are now on the UN once again, as the Troika prepares to submit its report to the secretary-general on December 10. A week before this, the diplomats will visit Belgrade and Pristina. The government has meantime confirmed for Tanjug news agency that Kostunica will attend the UN Security Council session on December 19. This will be the meeting that will discuss the Troika report. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will then propose the next steps in search of a solution for the Kosovo status crisis. Serbia's prime minister and president, Vojislav Kostunica and Boris Tadic, in Baden (Beta)

Troika-mediated Kosovo talks fall through

The negotiations between the Serbian authorities and the Kosovo Albanians, restarted in August and mediated by the EU, Russian and U.S. envoys, have concluded with a three-day round in Austria.

No progress and no success have been reported in the closing meeting between President Boris Tadić, Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, and Kosovo leaders Fatmir Sejdiu and Agim Ceku, with Wolfgang Ischinger, Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko and Frank Wisner.

In a news conference in Vienna today, EU's Ischinger said that although Belgrade and Priština failed to reach agreement, the talks represented a chance to build trust between the two sides.

"They had a chance to communicate not only during official meetings but also informally. Hashim Thaci, Vuk Jeremić, Agim Ceku and Boris Tadić spent hours talking during the two dinners we had together," the German diplomat revealed, and voiced hope that this level of communication will be maintained.

Ischinger also said he believed the EU demonstrated "total unity" toward the negotiating process.

"I have had the greatest possible support from all 27 EU members and I am convinced the EU will be able to remain united facing this challenge," he told reporters at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The U.S. envoy, Frank Wisner, said that the status quo was not sustainable in Kosovo, and added he hoped the problem "would soon be solved".

Wisner stressed there were tensions over the province's status, but that Belgrade and Priština remained committed to peaceful resolution of the problem.

Russia's Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko said the Troika will present the UN secretary-general with a report, while the conclusions on what to do next will be made by "the UN Security Council and countries' governments."

Russia remains committed to a compromise solution for Kosovo, believing only this outcome could provide the region with stability, peace and security, he said.

Botsan-Kharchenko also lauded what he saw as constructive atmosphere and quality of talks in the past three days.

Moscow considers Kosovo as one of the key issues in Europe, the Russian diplomat stressed.

Belgrade team: Independence illegal

At the end of the talks, President Boris Tadić said Serbia would not recognized Kosovo's independence as such an outcome would breach international law and destabilize the country, region, and Europe.

"There was no compromise, but that does not mean that Serbia considers all compromise possibilities exhausted," the president said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Vojislav oštunica told journalists Serbia has done everything to offer various essential autonomy solutions, considering that a declaration of Kosovo's independence would break international law.

"There were attempts to raise other issues, such as relations between two states, modeled on the two Germanys, which runs contrary to UN SC Resolution 1244 and international documents," he said, adding that such proposals were not presented "by the Troika as a whole".

Koštunica also noted that the Kosovo status talks have been brought back to where they started.

"The whole process started in the UN Security Council and that is where it must conclude," the prime minister said, reminding that Serbia is an internationally recognized, democratic country, that will not allow this to be brought into question by unilateral acts.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo and likely the province's next premier, Hashim Thaci, says the talks between Belgrade and Priština are over.

"We will make the next moves in consultation with Washington and Brussels," he said.

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu told journalists following the final meeting in Baden that the three-day talks represented an additional possibility for further work on the Ahtisaari plan.

"Unfortunately there has been no agreement and we will establish cooperation with the international community. We have said and proved that independence is the beginning and the end of the vision regarding the Kosovo status. Our wish is to build a democratic state for all our citizens," Sejdiu said.

After yesterday’s discussions, Koštunica said that all of the arguments are on Serbia’s side, which stands for upholding international law.

Koštunica said that the negotiations have been unbalanced thus far because one side wants international laws to be respected, while the other is looking for a solution that violates those laws.

“The negotiations lasted two years and they have to end the way they began, at the United Nations Security Council. The process will not end now, in Baden, nor on December 3, when the Troika will be coming to Belgrade and Priština, and it will not end on December 10, when the Troika will report to the United Nations Secretary General. It can only end before the UN Security Council,” Koštunica said.

Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku, on the other hand, said that the talks were nearing their end. Asked by a reporter whether Kosovo will be independent by March, Ceku said that it there will be independence "even earlier".

“We will see soon, our goal is to have Kosovo independence, based on the plan of Martti Ahtisaari in cooperation with the international community by the end of this year,” Ceku said.

During yesterday’s negotiations, President Boris Tadić described Serbia’s autonomy proposal in detail.

The plan which would give Albanians a large amount of authority while keeping Kosovo under Serbian sovereignty.

Serbia would keep the rights of conducting foreign and defense policy, border control, protection of Serbian historical sites and representation in the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe.

According to this proposal, rejected by Priština, Kosovo would be able to have access to international financial institutions and other international and regional organizations.

All eyes are now on the UN once again, as the Troika prepares to submit its report to the secretary-general on December 10. A week before this, the diplomats will visit Belgrade and Priština.

The government has meantime confirmed for Tanjug news agency that Koštunica will attend the UN Security Council session on December 19. This will be the meeting that will discuss the Troika report.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will then propose the next steps in search of a solution for the Kosovo status crisis.