The United Nations Security Council began debate on Tuesday on the Kosovo plan drawn up by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, who served as the special representative of the UN Security Council in talks on the future of Kosovo.
Approving the proposal would mean that Kosovo, which is officially a province of Serbia, would gain independence under the supervision of the European Union.
Ahtisaari personally presented his proposal to the Security Council. Also at UN headquarters in New York was Serb Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.
The Security Council is expected to spend several weeks going through the plan.
Kostunica has said that he is confident that Russia’s support will prevent Kosovo from being given full independence. Russia has called for the appointment of a new Kosovo envoy to replace Ahtisaari, and that the negotiations on the future of Kosovo should continue between Serbia and the predominantly Albanian Kosovo.
Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku urged the Security Council to approve Ahtisaari’s plan.
The US and the EU have said that a monitored independence is the only possibility for Kosovo to avert the outbreak of violence there. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said on Tuesday that he fully supports Ahtisaari’s proposals.
Ahtisaari himself has said that independence for Kosovo is the only realistic option. Ahtisaari’s plan calls for a separate constitution, flag, and national anthem for Kosovo, as well as the right to join international organisations. The proposal also provides protections for the Serb minority.
Kosovo would remain under the supervision of the EU, and NATO-led forces would remain in Kosovo to secure peace and stability there. Kosovo’s 100,000 Serbs would be guaranteed self-determination and protection.
Kosovo has been under UN supervision since 1999.
