Post by engers on Dec 13, 2007 3:01:06 GMT -5
'Supervised independence' realistic for Kosovo: Austria
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published: 12/12/2007
VIENNA - The "only realistic" solution for Kosovo was independence supervised by the international community, as proposed by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said on Wednesday.
"The possibilities for finding a negotiated solution have been exhausted," Plassnik said in a statement ahead of the EU summit in Lisbon, where the thorny issue is set to be discussed.
"Supervised independence, as proposed by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari, is the only realistic starting point," Plassnik told the Austrian parliament's EU committee.
At their summit in Brussels on Friday, EU leaders will try to hammer out a joint position on Kosovo if, as expected, the ethnic Albanian-majority province announces next month its intention to break away from Serbia.
Plassnik expressed confidence that EU unity will be found in recognising Kosovo.
"The European Council will send a strong and unified signal of Europe's commitment for Kosovo," the minister said. "The EU is aware of its responsibility and is ready to face up to it."
Austria would continue to be active in Kosovo, Plassnik continued, saying Vienna had proposed sending 33 experts as part of an upcoming special EU mission.
Austria already has 578 soldiers participating in the KFOR mission, UN peacekeepers in the region.
"People in Kosovo need clarity. The lack of solution on its status is increasingly becoming an uncertainty factor, not only for the entire Balkan region, but also a brake on the economy," Plassnik said.
gg/spm/ag
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ftp]http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=206528[/ftp]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published: 12/12/2007
VIENNA - The "only realistic" solution for Kosovo was independence supervised by the international community, as proposed by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said on Wednesday.
"The possibilities for finding a negotiated solution have been exhausted," Plassnik said in a statement ahead of the EU summit in Lisbon, where the thorny issue is set to be discussed.
"Supervised independence, as proposed by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari, is the only realistic starting point," Plassnik told the Austrian parliament's EU committee.
At their summit in Brussels on Friday, EU leaders will try to hammer out a joint position on Kosovo if, as expected, the ethnic Albanian-majority province announces next month its intention to break away from Serbia.
Plassnik expressed confidence that EU unity will be found in recognising Kosovo.
"The European Council will send a strong and unified signal of Europe's commitment for Kosovo," the minister said. "The EU is aware of its responsibility and is ready to face up to it."
Austria would continue to be active in Kosovo, Plassnik continued, saying Vienna had proposed sending 33 experts as part of an upcoming special EU mission.
Austria already has 578 soldiers participating in the KFOR mission, UN peacekeepers in the region.
"People in Kosovo need clarity. The lack of solution on its status is increasingly becoming an uncertainty factor, not only for the entire Balkan region, but also a brake on the economy," Plassnik said.
gg/spm/ag
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ftp]http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=206528[/ftp]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------