Foreign ministers of the 27-member European Union failed on
Friday to reach consensus on a United Nations proposal for Kosovo's
supervised independence.
Slovakia, Spain and Greece, who feared that independence of
Kosovo will trigger demands for similar treatment by other minority
groups in Europe, are opposed to the proposal raised by former
Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari.
Serbia rejected the proposed independence of Kosovo sought by
Albanian majority in the Serbian republic. Foreign ministers from
several EU members told the meeting that they also worried
Ahtisaari's plan will further strain relations with Serbia.
However, the ministers agreed to press for a rapid adoption of a
UN Security Council resolution on the proposal, which is also
opposed by Russia and China.
The EU foreign ministers welcomed the opening of talks on a new
resolution in New York. In the Security Council, the EU will
present its joint position on Kosovo in an "active and united
manner," said a press release following their meeting on
Friday.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon submitted early this week to
the Security Council the proposal for a Kosovo status settlement.
Ahtisaari recommended that Kosovo's independence be supervised for
"an initial period" by the European Union with NATO military forces
and the European police.
Ban Ki-moon, submitting the proposal to the UN Security Council,
said the recommendations had his full support.
Germany, which holds the EU presidency, supports the plan. The
EU "strongly supports" the proposal, a statement issued Monday by
the German EU presidency said.
"His proposal for a Kosovo status settlement is designed to
foster the building of a multi-ethnic, democratic society in Kosovo
based on the rule of law," the statement said.
After 11 hours of heated discussion on Friday, German Foreign
Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the UN resolution should
"respect the legitimate interests" of both Serbia and Kosovo.
"The Kosovo status settlement marks the final act in the
dissolution of the former Yugoslavia," he said during the press
conference late Friday.
"Not until this outstanding issue in the Balkans is resolved can
we achieve lasting political stability and economic development in
the region," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2007)
