Security Council to decide the fate of Kosovo
The UN Special Envoy for Kosovo has handed over his final proposal to the Security Council. In the report, independence is proposed as the only possible solution for the disputed Serbian province. Western countries fear that Russia will use its veto on the matter.
“Independence is the only option for a politically stable and economically viable Kosovo,” wrote the UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari in his report to the Security Council. Independence is to be supervised by the international community.
No agreement was reached at the negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo on the proposed plan for the future status of the disputed province in Vienna earlier this month. Mr. Ahtisaari declared the talks over on 12 March.
At that time, Mr. Ahtisaari said that the potential of negotiations was exhausted, and that no amount of additional negotiation would change the fact that the parties´ respective positions were completely opposed.
Serbia rejects independence, a goal sought by many Albanians who outnumber Serbs and others in the province by 9 to 1.
The initial plan Mr. Ahtisaari put forward in February gave Kosovo the right to govern itself and conclude international agreements, including membership in international bodies, under international civilian and military supervision to help to ensure peace and stability. Both sides interpreted this as meaning independence supervised by the international community.
Up till now, Mr. Ahtisaari has avoided using the word “independence”. However, after having published his final report, he stated that in the present situation, Belgrade demands that Kosovo remains an autonomous region within Serbia, and nothing beyond that. Pristina insists that nothing less than independence is acceptable, so this proposal was the only possible solution.
Mr. Ahtisaari warned that the prolonged uncertainty threatens the democratic development and ethnic reconciliation.
“Such uncertainty only leads to further stagnation, polarizing its communities and resulting in social and political unrest,” Mr. Ahtisaari wrote. “Pretending otherwise and denying or delaying resolution of Kosovo’s status risks challenging not only its own stability but the peace and stability of the region as a whole.”
“Kosovo is a unique case that demands a unique solution,” he wrote. However, Mr. Ahtisaari pointed out that Kosovo´s ability to tackle the many challenges that it faces, such as minority protection, democratic development and social reconciliation, is still limited. Thus international assistance and surveillance in developing its political and legal institutions is crucial.
After the negotiations in Vienna, the Russian foreign ministry spokesman Mihail Kamynin stated that without the agreement of both sides, the proposals of Mr. Ahtisaari couldn´t guarantee a stable, and long-lasting resolution.
“It is necessary to continue impartial consultations,” said Kamynin at that time, according to AFP.
As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia could exercise its veto on the matter.
“At the end of the day, it is Mr. Putin that decides”
The Kosovo situation was discussed earlier this month at the conference “A settlement for Kosovo” organized by the European Policy Centre (EPC) and the King Baudouin Foundation in Brussels.
Speakers agreed that without a UN resolution, Pristina was likely to declare independence, and that could have disastrous consequences for all parties involved.
“At the end of the day, it is Mr. Putin that decides,” said journalist Tim Judah, referring to the Security Council and the possible UN Resolution on Kosovo´s future.
Mr. Vejdova, Executive Director of the Balkan Trust for Democracy, said that no one in Serbia wants to start another conflict in the region. He pointed out that Serbia was going to use every single legal means to maintain its integrity. However, in the long term and after a careful process of negotiations, Serbia might agree to some form of conditional independence for the province, he said. Mr. Vejdova also emphasized the role of the UN Security Council in backing up the whole peace process.
“Breaking the vicious circle of war and revenge”: EU´s role in Kosovo
According to Mr. Ahtisaari´s proposal, the EU is expected to take on a bigger role in Kosovo.
Alexandros Yannis, Directorate Western Balkans Region, Council of the European Union, said that the EU´s perspective on the settlement is based on safeguarding regional stability. According to Mr. Yannis, the EU wants to break the vicious circle of war and revenge and turn it into a virtuous circle of political solutions. He pointed out that even if the EU is determined to help Kosovo to achieve stability and eventually become a member of the EU family, at the end of the day, it is up to the Kosovars, who have the main responsibility and government institutions have to take the lead in the process.