By Neil MacDonald in Zagreb and Guy Dinmorein Washington
Published: September 23 2006 03:00 | Last updated: September 23 2006 03:00
Attempts to reach a negotiated solution on independence for Kosovo remained deadlocked last night, leaving the troubled province's political future in the hands of divided international powers, aides to the United Nations' chief mediator said.
Martti Ahtisaari is expected to present proposals in November that Kosovo be granted sovereignty, resolving the last lingering question from the collapse of Yugoslavia.
But continued differences within the Contact Group of nations, which stands behind Mr Ahtisaari's mandate, could result in limited sovereignty for the 90 per cent ethnic-Albanian territory, conditional on strong international oversight for several years to come, senior western diplomats said.
The group brings together the US, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Russia in a supporting role to the UN, which has administered Kosovo since the expulsion of Yugoslav Serb forces in 1999.
During a week of heightened ethnic tension in Kosovo, the group made clear that it would permit neither Belgrade nor Pristina "unilaterally" to block negotiations to decide the disputed territory's future status. Serbia argues that independence will lead to renewed regional instability.
But observers suspect that Russia and China, fearful of secession disputes within their own borders, may resist formal independence for Kosovo in the UN Security Council, which will be required to ratify any proposal.
Diplomats in Washington also see the Bush administration responding to the concerns raised by Russia and Serbia and reassessing their position on Kosovo.
Serbia's parliament in an emotional session last week decided to name Kosovo as an "integral part" of the country in a new constitution, which Vojislav Kostinica, the prime minister, aims to complete before elections early next year.
But Joachim Ruecker, chief UN administrator for Kosovo, advised the UN Security Council last week that delaying the outcome of the Vienna talks would only prolong tensions.
American and many European officials have tacitly supported "imposed independence", assuming continued international involvement will help protect Serbs and other minorities.
But four bombing incidents during the past eight days have raised the spectre of deadly clashes again in the province.
Nato-led peacekeepers have increased their patrols and checkpoints around Kosovo.
The 16,000-strong Nato-led Kosovo force also provides road escorts to the Serb minority, whose members attract blame for "ethnic cleansing" by Yugoslav Serb forces until the Nato intervention seven years ago.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2006
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