Solana, Ban urge caution over Kosovo

Solana, Ban urge caution over Kosovo

“I hope very much that this open process will allow both sides time for talks and that after that, a resolution will be adopted. As you know, the draft that is currently in the Security Council does not mention negotiations without a time limit.”

“The current idea is for the talks to last 120 days… we have no ambition to put a precise deadline on it, but I must say we are not considering an indefinite amount of time,” Solana said.

Ban said after the meeting that the EU should maintain unity and take the initiative in the process of solving the province’s status, and called for restraint from Belgrade and Priština.

“I would like to use this opportunity to call on the parties concerned not to undertake premature, unilateral moves that would additionally complicate this already complex issue,” Ban concluded.

Also in Brussels Tuesday, the UN secretary-general said new delays in determining Kosovo's status would have negative impact in the province and beyond.

Ban told a news conference after talks with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu he hoped the UN Security Council would agree on a draft resolution allowing for 120 days of consultation to overcome differences between Russia and the West, cautioning against unilateral action.

"Any further delay or prolongation on this very important issue would have a very negative impact on all peace and security, not only in Kosovo, not only in the Balkans, but in the whole European situation," Ban said.

Western nations pressed on Monday for a Security Council decision within the next week on independence for Kosovo but council president China said big powers were as divided as ever.

Ban said the United Nations was facing "an impasse".

"I am concerned that we have not been able to take any action on this, as much as we had hoped," Ban said.

The European Union supports the plan of UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari for supervised independence for Kosovo but says it requires a Security Council resolution to take on its responsibility for policing and overseeing the territory.

Diplomats say a unilateral declaration of independence, perhaps with U.S. backing, could split the 27-nation EU.

"Unity of the European Union is very important," Ban said.

He said the EU could help by giving "reasonable incentives" and a prospect of eventual membership to Serbia to minimize its concerns and anxieties.

"We need to address these issues in a more comprehensive way," the UN chief added.

Solana to meet Jeremić

Javier Solana is set to meet in Brussels with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić.

Earlier today, officials close to Solana’s office told the Beta news agency that intensive consultations were underway by key international factors in a bid to arrive at “a compromise formula” in the next six months, regarding the Kosovo status solution.

The unnamed officials have stressed that various possibilities for the province’s future status were considered by “EU partners, the U.S. ally, Russia, and the UN”, and that the positions of Belgrade and Priština will “certainly be of importance.”

The previously determined agenda of Jeremić’s meeting with Solana also includes discussions on the strengthening of relations between Serbia and the EU.