"Solution for 'cold conflict' must be found"

Pieter Feith says that the International Civil Office (ICO) does not want armed conflicts in northern Kosovo. “We can’t change with a magic wand what has been happening for years in northern Kosovo. It is clear that we do not want an armed conflict, but we don’t want a continuation of the cold conflict either, which has been going on for many years,” the ICO chief said. "Solution for 'cold conflict' must be found" He said that the international community will consult with Belgrade if need be, but not on all aspects of the plan. "Territorial integrity is the main principle that should be protected and the ICO is helping the Kosovo government with that,” Feith said. U.S. ambassador to Kosovo Christopher Dell said that America supports the strategy for the integration of northern Kosovo and called for everyone to accept it. He said that the plan includes elements of “Resolution 1244 and the Martti Ahtisaari plan”. "The reactions from Belgrade were negative and in some cases hysterical. I believe that this plan is in the best interest of Serbia and Kosovo for solving the problems and opening the path for cooperation,” Dell said, adding that regional cooperation with the goal of integration into the EU structure should be the main goal. The strategy in question is a document of the Kosovo Albanian government and ICO and includes four areas – the rule of law, the formation of a new municipality of North Mitrovica, the organization of local elections in three northern municipalities, and social-economic development. The northern areas in question are inhabited by Serbs, who have rejected this plan, along with official Belgrade. In Pristina, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi said that the goal was to integrate the north, and called on the international community to pressure Belgrade into “allowing” Serbs to participate in Kosovo institutions. Kuqi added that if Belgrade did not want to be constructive, Pristina would use all democratic means to implement the strategy. He asked for support from EULEX and KFOR in the “integration efforts”, which he said have “gotten out of control.” “The Kosovo government has the obligation to offer a perspective to all the citizens of the north,” Kuqi said. Pieter Feith (FoNet, file) Feith's mandate to be extended Meanwhile, it was announced that Feith's term of office as the European Union special representative in Kosovo will be extended on Thursday at a session of EU justice and interior ministers. This is according to spokesperson for the Spanish EU Presidency Cristina Gallach. This is a regular internal procedure and a purely administrative issue, she said. The terms of office of Feith and other special representatives will be extended Thursday at a session of EU justice and interior ministers, she told Tanjug. The extension of Feith's term of office has already been agreed and the official confirmation of that decision has been scheduled for Thursday due to procedural regulations, Gallach said.

"Solution for 'cold conflict' must be found"

He said that the international community will consult with Belgrade if need be, but not on all aspects of the plan.

"Territorial integrity is the main principle that should be protected and the ICO is helping the Kosovo government with that,” Feith said.

U.S. ambassador to Kosovo Christopher Dell said that America supports the strategy for the integration of northern Kosovo and called for everyone to accept it.

He said that the plan includes elements of “Resolution 1244 and the Martti Ahtisaari plan”.

"The reactions from Belgrade were negative and in some cases hysterical. I believe that this plan is in the best interest of Serbia and Kosovo for solving the problems and opening the path for cooperation,” Dell said, adding that regional cooperation with the goal of integration into the EU structure should be the main goal.

The strategy in question is a document of the Kosovo Albanian government and ICO and includes four areas – the rule of law, the formation of a new municipality of North Mitrovica, the organization of local elections in three northern municipalities, and social-economic development.

The northern areas in question are inhabited by Serbs, who have rejected this plan, along with official Belgrade.

In Priština, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi said that the goal was to integrate the north, and called on the international community to pressure Belgrade into “allowing” Serbs to participate in Kosovo institutions.

Kuqi added that if Belgrade did not want to be constructive, Priština would use all democratic means to implement the strategy.

He asked for support from EULEX and KFOR in the “integration efforts”, which he said have “gotten out of control.”

“The Kosovo government has the obligation to offer a perspective to all the citizens of the north,” Kuqi said.

Feith's mandate to be extended

Meanwhile, it was announced that Feith's term of office as the European Union special representative in Kosovo will be extended on Thursday at a session of EU justice and interior ministers.

This is according to spokesperson for the Spanish EU Presidency Cristina Gallach.

This is a regular internal procedure and a purely administrative issue, she said.

The terms of office of Feith and other special representatives will be extended Thursday at a session of EU justice and interior ministers, she told Tanjug.

The extension of Feith's term of office has already been agreed and the official confirmation of that decision has been scheduled for Thursday due to procedural regulations, Gallach said.