"Russian, French Kosovo stances close"

"Russian, French Kosovo stances close"

After the meeting today, the two ministers agreed that talks on the future status of Kosovo should be continued.

However, while Kouchner said UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari’s plan will be implemented unless the two sides reach agreement, Jeremić repeated that as far as Belgrade was concerned, the plan was “long dead”.

Russian and French position on Kosovo are very close, Koucher told journalists, and added that a UN resolution on the province was possible “as early as this week”.

“If we continue talks and continue with a fruitful dialogue, including the Russian stance, it goes without saying we can discuss relations, wording and precise meaning of the new resolution. All this can be done.”

“But if no one, quite no one is willing to talk, while one side insist on dependence and other on independence, that will certainly lead to the guidelines given in the Ahtisaari plan [being implemented],” Kouchner said.

Jeremić, however, repeated that Belgrade found Kosovo’s independence unacceptable, and also rejected the Ahtisaari plan since it did not stem from agreement and compromise.

“Belgrade is ready for new talks and we hope they will be essential negotiations, leading to a compromise acceptable to all sides, that will work to stabilize the region in the long-term,” Jeremić said.

According to Jeremić, Serbia will sign the SAA agreement with the EU by the end of the year, and become a candidate in the second half of 2008, during France’s presidency.

However, Kouchner tied Serbia's EU ambition to the Kosovo settlement process.

“Our wish is to grant EU membership candidacy to Serbia in the second half of 2008 during France’s presidency over the European Union,” he said.

“Nonetheless, we harbor no illusions – there is the issue of Kosovo which has to be settled first,” Kouchner told Beta news agency.

"It is not possible to enter the EU with an ethnic conflict. Kosovo is a delicate problem, the last focal point of conflict in the Balkans."

He added that the issue had to be settled for good.

“France has called for the continuation of the talks so as to seek a compromise,” Kouchner said.

Ahead of his arrival, Kouchner said that Ahtisaari’s plan “was the best foundation for both the status solution and for the Serbs living in the province.”

“Paradoxically, Ahtisaari himself, not Belgrade, has recommended a vast number of provisions aimed at protecting Serbs in Kosovo,” he told the Danas daily.

According to him, Belgrade could have played better for the benefit of Kosovo Serbs, stressing that their future "depended on the settlement of the status issue."

“Only a resolved status of the province can offer a clear vision of the future and guarantees for stability. That is why Ahtisaari’s recommendations are the best basis for the Kosovo Serbs,” he said.

Kouchner reiterated that France backed the Ahtisaari plan as a compromise that involved a long period of work and efforts, underscoring that both Belgrade and Priština must make concessions.