Serb minority may get special rights in Kosovo

Advance information leaks out about Ahtisaari's proposals

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United Nations special envoy, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari plans to propose limited independence for Kosovo, under the supervision of the European Union. According to diplomatic sources, under the plan the Serb minority in Kosovo would get special status in the future Parliament. A fixed number of seats in the Parliament would be set aside for the Serbs.
      Also, the implementation of legislation applying to minorities would require the consent of the Serb representatives.
      The rights of the Serb minority would be further protected by giving them special influence over legal, police, and educational matters, among others, in their own areas.
     
By extending these carrots to the Kosovar Serbs, Ahtisaari hopes to get their consent for the independence of Kosovo. About 100,000 of the approximately two million inhabitants of the predominantly Albanian Kosovo are Serbs.
      Serbia's approval is being sought by guaranteeing special protection for important religious sites. Serbia would also be granted the right to provide economic support for Kosovo's Serbian population, provided that the money is channelled through Kosovo officials.
     
The European Union would get broad authority in the area. One of its tasks would be to help secure the rights of the Serb minority.
      The proposal would give Kosovo the possibility to join international organisations, such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank already during the transitional period.
      Ahtisaari is scheduled to present his proposals today to a closed meeting of the six-country Contact Group, comprising the United States, Russia, the UK, France, Germany, and Italy.
      The UN envoy is then expected to present the proposal to Serbia and Kosovo on Friday of next week.
      The implementation of Ahtisaari's proposal requires the approval of the UN Security Council, which remains uncertain. Russia, a close ally of Serbia, has threatened to use its veto to block any resolution that is not to its liking. However, Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin hinted on Wednesday night that Moscow might give its approval to Ahtisaari's proposal.
      The Kosovo question has remained unresolved since the war of 1998-1999. About 10,000 people were killed in the war, and 800,000 were forced to leave their hopes. Since the war, Kosovo has been under UN control.
     
A full report from Kosovo by Helsingin Sanomat journalist Heli Suominen will be published among our weekly features on Tuesday next week.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Ahtisaari focus of anger in Kosovo; full independence demanded (25.1.2007)
  Ahtisaari proposal on Kosovo to be made public by early February (19.1.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat