Ahtisaari wants Russian support for Kosovo independence

UN envoy seeking support for independence plan

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Although he has been busy travelling around the world in April and May, there is no trace of fatigue on the face of former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, the United Nations special envoy for the future of Kosovo. His mission has taken him to the United States, Germany, Indonesia, Ghana, Britain, Sweden, and again to the USA.
      On the other hand, there is no sign of a suntan either; there is little sunlight inside the halls of the UN or the airports of the world.
      "In principle, my work is done. The plan on the status of Kosovo has been sent to the UN Security Council. But the purpose of the visits is to inform members of the Security Council in particular. And naturally, we are trying to get support for the plan", Ahtisaari said in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat during a stopover of a few days in Helsinki.
      The predominantly Albanian Kosovo, which is formally a part of Serbia, has been waiting for a resolution of its status for eight years already. Last year Ahtisaari served as a mediator in negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo.
      At the end of the talks he published a plan - the so-called Ahtisaari package - according to which Kosovo would get de facto independence under the supervision of the European Union and NATO, and that the rights and security of the Serb minority would be guaranteed. The matter will be decided by the UN Security Council.
      The aim is to reach a solution that would finally put an end to fears of a new war in the Balkans.
     
According to Ahtisaari, a majority of members on the Security Council are in favour of the plan. However, this does not mean that it will be approved.
      "A key question is, what Russia will do", he says.
      As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia can veto majority decisions. As a traditional ally of Serbia, Russia has called for a solution in Kosovo that would be acceptable to Serbia as well.
      "Ahtisaari says that he would be "surprised and disappointed" if Russia were to veto a Kosovo resolution. He also pondered the implications of such a possible move.
      "First of all, [using the veto] would weaken the value of the UN. I do not believe that the Russians want to weaken the UN as a place where it is possible to agree on issues."
      "Second, it is hard to imagine that Russia would want to give the world the message that it approves of what happened in Kosovo in the 1990s - that Russia would give the impression that it is acceptable that this kind of a leader, with a tendency toward dictatorship [Serbia’s late former leader Slobodan Milosevic] could misuse his position so badly that he would kill a large number of his citizens."
     
The publication and handling of the Kosovo plan has been delayed several times. Perhaps for this reason, Ahtisaari no longer wants to give a definite timetable by which time he expects a solution.
      "Naturally I would have hoped that a solution would have come in May. The days are running out, but it isn’t impossible."
      Today, Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the G8 countries, who are meeting in Germany, will discuss the issue.
      The G8 summit will be held on June 8th - also in Germany. Many have predicted that the meeting will be an arena that would give President Vladimir Putin the opportunity to conspicuously reveal Russia’s view on the matter.
      In Ahtisaari’s view, some decision "has to be made" while Germany holds the EU Presidency - that is, before July.
      "Otherwise the international community will have failed."
     
Serbia wants to hold more talks on the Kosovo situation. Ahtisaari feels that nobody would benefit from an extension. As long as the position of Kosovo is unsure and vague, it cannot begin to resolve its difficult economic problems. According to various assessments, more than half of Kosovo residents are unemployed.
      If Kosovo were an independent state, it could apply for membership in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and get the loans that it needs from them.
      "The EU is paying the bill here. It is not in Europe’s interest to let the uncertainty drag on."
     
According to several experts, Kosovo will unilaterally declare itself independent if the UN will not achieve a resolution on the matter. The danger is that without supervision, the bitterness between Serbs and Albanians could take control and lead to violence, or at least to discrimination against the Serb minority.
      "I think that the movement is toward independence in any case. The options are simple: as organised a solution as possible, or a chaotic one."
      Although the Kosovo process has been difficult and long, Ahtisaari, who turns 70 in June, is ready to continue in his peace mediation role. In principle he is also ready to continue as the UN special envoy if the process stretches out.
      "It is logical that my group and I would be available if the Secretary-General wants, until a resolution is achieved in the Security Council."


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Serb newspapers launch onslaught against Martti Ahtisaari (9.2.2007)
  Ahtisaari focus of anger in Kosovo; full independence demanded (25.1.2007)
  Ahtisaari hopes UN will make decision on Kosovo soon (18.4.2007)
  UN Security Council begins debate on Ahtisaari Kosovo plan (4.4.2007)
  US opposes replacing Ahtisaari as Kosovo mediator (20.3.2007)
  Russia wants new UN mediator to replace Martti Ahtisaari (19.3.2007)
  Ahtisaari proposes independence for Kosovo (27.3.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat