Former President Ahtisaari rejects Serb criticism of Kosovo talks

Serb newspaper claims discussions are at breaking point

Martti Ahtisaari

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Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari denies reports that talks on the status of Kosovo, in which he is serving as the United Nations mediator, would not be making progress. The Serbian newspaper Politika wrote recently that the talks were "at the point of breaking down"
      "It is unfair to claim that no progress has taken place", Ahtisaari said in Brussels on Wednesday after meeting with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.
      The talks are somewhat difficult; Kosovo is a province of Serbia, which is currently under the control of the United Nations. Its ethnic Albanian majority wants full independence from Serbia, an idea which is firmly rejected by Belgrade.
      Ahtisaari plans to discuss the state of the negotiations in June with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Ahtisaari has been given until November to negotiate an agreement on the status of Kosovo.
      Ahtisaari, Barroso and Rehn insisted during a press conference on Wednesday that the future of the Balkans is inside the European Union. However, in many member states, there has been an increasing sentiment of suspicion toward further enlargement of the EU.
     
Barroso appealed to EU member states to adhere to the commitments that they had made to the Balkan countries.
      "The member states must make it clear to the people, how important the stabilisation of the area is for Europe. We must be part of solving this conflict, which is not yet over", Barroso said.
      Ahtisaari was satisfied with the promises of membership given by the EU to the Balkan countries. Barroso said that there was no doubt that Serbia, for instance, would be a member of the EU some day.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Serbian President meets Ahtisaari, proposes division of Kosovo (25.11.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat