Ahtisaari proposes independence for Kosovo

Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, the special envoy of the United Nations in the dispute over the status of Kosovo, has proposed to the UN Security Council that the province be granted independence from Serbia under international supervision.
      Ahtisaari officially presented his report on the status of Kosovo to the UN Security Council on Monday.
      While it is still formally a province of Serbia, Kosovo has been governed by the UN since a war that ended in 1999.
      Serbia opposes independence, and would be willing to grant the area nothing more than autonomy. The ethnic Albanian majority in the province wants full independence.
      In the view of Ahtisaari, independence for Kosovo is the "only workable alternative" that would guarantee "a politically and economically viable Kosovo".
     
Ahtisaari mediated in talks between Kosovo and Serbia last year, which nevertheless ended in an impasse.
      Under Ahtisaari’s proposal, Kosovo’s independence would be monitored for a certain time by representatives of the international community. The European Union has long been seen as the likely choice for this role. Under the plan, the EU would also make sure that Kosovo respects its obligation to protect the security and culture of the Serb minority.
      Ahtisaari has long been expected to propose independence for Kosovo. However, he has avoided using the word "independence" in public. Serbia has been hoping that the proposal would prove to be more favourable for its interests.
      Most of the permanent members of the UN Security Council are expected to support the proposal. Russia, on the other hand, has noted that the Kosovo question cannot be solved with a proposal that Serbia is unable to approve.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  US opposes replacing Ahtisaari as Kosovo mediator (20.3.2007)
  Russia wants new UN mediator to replace Martti Ahtisaari (19.3.2007)
  Serb newspapers lanch onslaught against Martti Ahtisaari (9.2.2007)
  Kosovo: impatience grows (25.1.2007)
  Ahtisaari focus of anger in Kosovo; full independence demanded (25.1.2007)