No progress on Kosovo future

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-06-2007 08:32

Adviser to the Serbian Government Slobodan Samardzic, Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, President Boris Tadic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic (L-R) wait for the beginning of talks on the UN Kosovo plan for the independence of Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province, in Vienna November 5, 2007. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer (AUSTRIA)

Internationally mediated talks between Serbian and ethnic Albanian negotiators over the future of Kosovo remain mired in disagreement with neither side reporting progress.

Talks on the future of Kosovo have resumed in Vienna. The US, Russia and the EU aim to find common ground between Serbs and Albanians. But the troika are divided over the fate of Serbia's province.

Serbia's Foreign Minister says his country objects to the 14-point proposal on the status of Kosovo drawn up by the troika.

The minister says one basic Serb objection is, there is no "explicit ruling out of a unilateral course of action." The proposal, first discussed in October calls for internationally-supervised independence for Kosovo.

Vuk Jeremic, Serbian Foreign Minister, said, "Our fundamental objection to whatever is being put on a piece of paper and declared a common ground. For us what is really essential is that there is an explicit reference to the fact which is part of the contact group conclusions."

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic briefs the media on the UN Kosovo plan for the independence of Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province, in Vienna, November 5, 2007. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer

Serbian officials suggest studying Hong Kong's model of governance and its relations with China's mainland to come up with a solution on the future status of Kosovo.

But Albanian ethnic group officials says it is entirely inappropriate because the historical background of Kosovo and Hong Kong differ so greatly.

Skender Hyseni, Kosovo Albanian Spokesman, said, "Kosovo is against any half solutions, any improvised solutions. Kosovo is in favor of a lasting, a sustainable solution. And the only sustainable and lasting solution is independence."

Member of the Kosovo delegation Skender Hyseni briefs the media on the UN Kosovo plan for the independence of Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province in Vienna November 5, 2007.  REUTERS/Herwig Prammer (AUSTRIA)

But, Serbia is not prepared to give up.

Boris Tadic, Serbian President, said, "Unfortunately I could not say today we achieved something crucial in our talks with the Pristina delegation, but we are not giving up, we are going to participate in the negotiation process until the end."

Kosovo is a Serbian province. It has been run by the UN since 1999, after NATO troops drove out Serbian forces fighting ethnic Albanian separatists.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei