UN Envoy Presents 'Compromise' Proposal On Kosovo

Ahtisaari says the two sides have "one more chance" to compromise (epa) February 2, 2007  (RFE/RL) -- The United Nation's special envoy for Kosovo presented what he called his "compromise" proposal for the province’s future status today.

Stopping first in Belgrade and then flying to Pristina, Martti Ahtisaari recommended a form of limited statehood that falls short of the demands of both Belgrade and Kosovo's majority ethnic Albanians.

The wording reportedly makes no mention of Serbian sovereignty over Kosovo, and no mention of independence for Kosovo.

Those are terms that Belgrade and Pristina, respectively, had demanded in any final settlement of the province’s status.

Instead, Martti Ahtisaari’s plan details a midway position in which Kosovo will receive some of the trappings of statehood while remaining under the immediate supervision of the international community.

"The aim of the settlement is to lay the foundations for a future Kosovo that is viable and stable, a future Kosovo where members of all communities -- Albanian, Serb, and other communities -- can live a dignified, safe, and economically more sustainable life," Ahtisaari said.

Flag And Anthem For Kosovo

The proposal reportedly calls for appointing a UN- and European Union-mandated supervisor over Kosovo with the power to veto legislation and dismiss local officials.

That would replace the current UN mission that supervises Kosovo.

Serbs demonstrating outside the presidential office in Belgrade today (epa)

And the EU would deploy a police mission alongside the existing NATO force.

However, Kosovo would gain the right to enter into international agreements and join international organizations.

And it would be allowed such national symbols as a flag, an anthem, a lightly armed security force, and its own border guards.

All that would give Kosovo a bigger place on the world stage.

At the same time, the province’s estimated 100,000 ethnic Serbs, as well as other non-Albanian minorities, would be guaranteed levels of representation in parliament, the police, and other institutions.

And municipalities with Serb majorities would gain powers of self-government.

In early reaction, Serbian President Boris Tadic rejected the plan, saying it "opens the possibility of independence."

In a statement issued after today's talks, Tadic said Serbia will never accept Kosovo's independence.

Russia's View Key

With today's formal presentation of Ahtisaari's proposal, the last -- and perhaps most difficult -- stage in deciding Kosovo’s future status begins. That is, getting the UN Security Council to approve the proposal so the international community can implement it.

The proposal would give Kosovo a form of limited statehood (RFE/RL)

Ahtisaari said today in Belgrade that he was "willing to integrate compromise solutions that parties might reach, and I will then finalize my settlement proposal for submission to the UN Security Council."

He said he would invite the rival sides to meet on February 13, but gave no indication of when his final document would be forwarded to New York.

So far, Russia -- Belgrade’s traditional ally -- has threatened to veto any resolution that would impart independence on the Serbian province. If Kosovo gets independence, Serbia would lose some 15 percent of its land.

Kosovo has been administered by the UN since 1999. when NATO forced Belgrade to withdraw its forces from the province after they killed thousands of ethnic Albanian citizens in counterinsurgency operations and forced tens of thousands more to flee their homes.