UN chief waiting for “new reality” to address Kosovo issue
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is waiting for the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence to address the issue of Serbia’s breakaway province, amid loud protests from Belgrade and Moscow, both committed to continuation of negotiations and final decision made within the frameworks of the UN.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Wednesday, February 06, 2008
"The UN Secretary General is expected to open the way for deployment of the 1,800-strong European Union mission in Kosovo, just days after Kosovo Albanians declare the independence in Pristina," a Western diplomat told KosovoCompromise.com.
However, Ban is not expected to directly address the problem, but rather admit the existence of "new reality" in Kosovo, which would, according to the EU diplomats, open the way for deployment of new supervisory mission in troubled province.
The phrase "new reality" would be a sufficient "signal" for further EU's action in Kosovo, diplomats said.
Earlier this month, Panama's Ambassador Ricardo Arias, who chairs the UN SC in February, declined to comment Kosovo situation, or whether the province's status will be raised by any Council member.
Russian diplomats have said earlier that Moscow would call the urgent session of the UN Security Council if Kosovo unilaterally declares independence.
In Pristina, Kosovo's Prime Minister and former rebel chief Hashim Thaci announced that Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia "in days", pledging the full protection for local Serbs and members of other minorities.
"Now we are turning to a new beginning. An independent Kosovo is a fact. Serbia and Kosovo have a common future as two independent countries in the European Union. It is our goal to work closely with Serbia and other neighbors in order to receive the full benefits of regional cooperation and European integration," Thaci wrote for the International Herald Tribune.
