Well, it's a good thing actually, it brings out more facts, discussion and helps to resurface an issue that is coming back around shortly. The issue about independence is currently brewing and will be news in the future.
Check this out.....and especially the last article, last paragraph.
Thaci: Pristina Will Not Negotiate Kosovo Independence
Bratislava, 20 Feb. (Makfax) – Pristina delegation is prepared to negotiate about everything, except the independence of Kosovo at the talks in Vienna.
This was stated by the Democratic Party of Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci in his interview to Slovakian daily SME, adding that this issue will be resolved by the end of this year.
“We are ready to negotiate everything, except sovereignty of Kosovo. That we will not negotiate. We guarantee the rights of all minorities, especially the Serbian minority”, says Thaci.
According to Thaci, Pristina proposal ensures that all Serbs will be equal citizens of Kosovo.
“We offer the right to dual citizenship. Also, we will accept the legitimate right of Belgrade to intervene to position of Serbs in Kosovo”, adds Thaci.
Proposals given by Belgrade, e.g. ethnic division of Kosovo, or delay of Kosovo independence for 20 years, cannot work in practice, said Thaci.
“In Belgrade already accepted that the independence of Kosovo is reality. Their role now is not to lose pride in front of the Serbian public. I believe that Belgrade in the end, will accept international decision for independence of Kosovo”, stated Thaci to SME.
Ahtisaari: Majority Will Decide
Berlin, Belgrade, Pristina, 19 Feb. (Beta) - Martti Ahtisaari foresees Kosovo independence, because the majority of Kosovo residents will decide so.
“Contact Group reached an agreement at the London meeting that in the end, Kosovo residents should decide about the future of Kosovo. Ninety percent are Albanians – so what you think they will decide”, said UN special envoy for talks about Kosovo status to German weekly “Spiegel”, right before start of decentralization talks in Vienna.
He said that guidelines are clear and “international community decided that current status cannot be kept in the future”. The UN envoy also noted that Belgrade cannot count on achieving of political and economic goals, unless it cooperates in a proper way in resolving of Kosovo status.
Ahtisaari added “there are two separate, and equally important parts at the talks”, and first one addresses “decentralization issue, self-government of Serbian minority, and issues of education and security”. “Second complex of issues addresses solely Serbia. We are talking about national goals of Serbia: NATO and European Union memberships and economic aspect. All these are not connected to Kosovo, except in one case. If Belgrade does not cooperate in the resolving of Kosovo issue, that will negatively influence Serbia’s goals”, noted Ahtisaari.
On Belgrade’s announcement on demand for a review of Bosnia and Herzegovina borders, if Kosovo becomes independent, UN envoy said; “the answer to this is simple: the one who does not play by the rules, should say farewell to their own goals”.
At same time, Ahtisaari reminded that “two possibilities were clearly excluded by the international community: a return to the situation before 1999, when Milosevic ruled Serbia and division of Kosovo”. Ahtisaari thinks that special attention should not be given to the announcements of Serbian Radical Party that Kosovo will be considered as East Germany, and later will be reunified with Serbia. “In every society there are people who give crazy statements. I do not consider such statements, it’s a waste of time”, Ahtisaari said.
On question what security guarantees are given to Serbs in Kosovo, UN envoy said; “protection of the minorities is a key issue, but does not exist at this moment”. “Something like KFOR troops have to exist in the future, as well, maybe only under different name. But, it has to be clear to everybody, Albanians too: if any party turns to violence, it is over for that party”, stressed Ahtisaari.
Tadic: Ahtisaari Has No Mandate To Impose Solution
Belgrade, 20 Feb (BETA) - Serbian President Boris Tadic said U.N. special envoy for the Kosovo status talks Marti Ahtisaari's "mandate is not to impose a solution, but facilitate a dialogue."
"The role of the international negotiator is not to define the outcome of talks, but to trigger the process instead. I feel Ahtisaari's position is politically incorrect at this point, which in no way reflects his role in the talks," Tadic said in a Feb. 19 interview with B92 TV, explaining that it will be the U.N. Security Council to choose the final solution, at the proposal of the Contact Group.
The Serbian president said Belgrade's giving up the talks would only "make Albanians happy," adding that he "will not leave the negotiating table." President Tadic believes the rest of the Belgrade team of negotiators share his view.
Samardzic: It Is Not Up To Ahtisaari To Anticipate Kosovo's Final Status
Vienna, 20 Feb (BETA) - Slobodan Samardzic, an adviser to Serbian Premier Vojislav Kostunica, said on Feb. 19 that U.N. Kosovo envoy Martti Ahtisaari will stop being the right person to supervise the Kosovo status talks if he continues making "careless" statements.
"His mandate does not include making such conjectures," said Samardzic in response to Ahtisaari's forecast in the German magazine Der Spiegel that Kosovo will become independent.
"Ahtisaari should take a look at the recommendations given to him by the U.N. secretary general since he is losing sight of them and making careless statements. If he continues to say things like that he will no longer be the right person for continuing the talks," said Samardzic.
The head of the Serbian Government Media Office, Srdjan Djuric, said on Feb. 19 that the U.N.'s special envoy on the question of Kosovo's future status "is wrongly and falsely interpreting" the Contact Group's conclusions and that he does not have the right to anticipate the final status of Kosovo.
Independent Kosovo Will Mean Exodus, Serbs Said
Ranilug, 20 Feb. (Tanjug) – In Kosovo Pomoravlje, in Ranilug Serbs today had a protest meeting from which they sent the message that an independent Kosovo is unacceptable for the Serbian community, and such solution for Kosovo and Metohija will cause a complete exodus of Serbs.
Creation of a Kosovo state, would mean that in the heart of Europe, a state is created which is a nest of terrorism, was the message of protesters in Ranilug. They demanded from the representatives of international community, talks about Kosovo status to be dedicated to respect of Resolution 1244 of UN Security Council, preservation of state integrity of Serbia, and talks generate compromise solution for Kosovo and Metohija.
Del Ponte Criticizes UNMIK
Hague, 20 Feb (B92) - The Hague Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte has criticized UNMIK for lack of cooperation.
Del Ponte stated that UNMIK is not cooperating adequately in the witness protection programs pertaining to war crimes trials.
“It is not at the level that it should be. We are concerned because UNMIK is not prepared to help us.” Del Ponte said.
According to the chief prosecutor, former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who was indicted by the Tribunal for war crimes last year, should be remanded back to custody until the beginning of his trial.
“Haradinaj is politically active again, and I am bewildered by the international support that he is receiving. It seems that peace in Kosovo can only exist with Haradinaj there. That is unacceptable. The problem is that the trial must begin as soon as possible, and we need to receive evidence because some of our witnesses have been threatened.” Del Ponte said. (Beta)
Serbs Protest In Ranilluk
20 Feb (Radio Kosova) – About 1,000 Serbs protested against beginning of the talks for the status of Kosova in Ranilluk on Monday. Anamorava Serbs gathered in this village, the largest Serb inhabited village in Dardana municipality, to protest against the behavior of a part of the international community that has openly stated that Kosova is going towards independence.
“They said that they are dissatisfied that a part of this international community is prejudging the final status of Kosova,” a KPS regional spokesperson, Ismet Hashani said based on the request that Serbs made to the police to allow this protest. Hashani added that besides this, Serbs also expressed their dissatisfaction about violation of their rights and freedoms such as freedom of movement, employment, power supply and other public services.
“The protest lasted about 45 minutes and was peaceful. No incidents were reported,” Hashani said.
UNMIK’s Acronym Burned In Gjilan
20 Feb (Epoka e Re) – The Self Determination! Movement in Gjilan had an action in Gjilan, where they burned wooden UNMIK letters.
“The action went as planned. This time the KPS members photographed our activists and our activity, KFOR helped KPS take their pictures” announced the Self Determination! Movement office in Gjilan.
Independence Seen As Pragmatic And Realistic Solution
20 Feb (RTK) – Solution for Kosova is not seen as a just or ideal solution in the eyes of the American administration, analysts and other organizations, but as an optimal solution without any other acceptable alternative.
The essential legal international arguments of the right for self-determination or maintaining of the sovereignty are not used, but it is simply going toward an accelerated and realistic solution based on the Real-Politics doctrine of the former diplomat Henry Kissinger. It is already known that in the past three to four years, the essential issue in the American politics is Iraq, Afghanistan and global war against terrorism. From this viewpoint, Kosova issue remained a third hand issue or even further. However, recognition of Kosova independence is considered to be one problem less for Washington. The opinion that prevails in Washington is that this would not be an ideal or moralist solution, but a pragmatic solution that would eliminate it from being an issue that would need military, material and diplomatic investments – something that Washington is not ready to offer in light of this new century’s events. The fear for a domino effect in the region or worldwide, is not being mentioned anymore and Kosova is not being considered as a precedent, but as a special and inevitable reality. Multiethnic society, being a model of democratic countries, if looked at realistically, almost does not exist in Kosova. Even the departure of Serbs after the final status, which will be independence, will not be considered as a tragedy, but as a realistic and justifiable development conditioned by the solution of a greater issue – the aspiration of more than 90% of Kosova population and calming down of the situation in the region. The international community will request and insist on preservation of the Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosova, not only as a Serb ethnic wealth, but as a wealth of Kosova and humanity.
Assessment of initial stance of negotiating sides and measuring of both sides’ pulses is expected in Vienna talks on Monday. It is being openly said that if these talks are delayed and show that they are going towards a dead-end, Washington, Brussels and the international community should accelerate this solution by recognizing or imposing independence of Kosova, with or without Belgrade approval. These ideas, which were expressed recently, are being considered as an acceptable and inevitable option even for the US State Department and the White House.
By Sylejman Gashi, New York