| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.12, No.6, 16.2.06 |
| Publication Date | 16/02/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 16/02/06 Talks on the future of Kosovo will begin in earnest on Monday (20 February) when representatives from Belgrade and Pristina meet United Nations officials in Vienna. Chaired by UN Deputy Special Envoy, Albert Rohan, negotiations are expected to focus on local government reform in Kosovo and enhancing the powers of local authorities. The meeting is seen as an effort to build confidence among Kosovo's Serbian minority and to assuage fears that they will suffer if Kosovo's ties with Belgrade are weakened. It is not yet clear whether the two sides will meet face-to-face although each will bring a seven-strong delegation to the talks. Seven more delegates will come from the office of Martti Ahtisaari, the UN's special envoy. The beginning of talks had been delayed after the death of Kosovo's president Ibrahim Rugova on 21 January. He has now been replaced by Fatmir Sejdiu, who is seen by many as a moderate. The EU will also have an observer present. The Commission reiterated its support for the talks but would not comment on the substance of the discussions. EU diplomats and other observers are keen to get face-to-face talks started and have expressed concern that the two sides may be waiting for an internationally imposed solution. The position of ethnic Serbs is seen as vital to agreeing the final status of the province. An estimated 100,000 Serbs are still thought to live in Kosovo, many of them on the Serbian border area north of Mitrovica. The International Crisis Group recommended in a recent report that the international community do more to bridge the 'Mitrovica divide', possibly by moving some of the ministries or state institutions of the Kosovo government to the town. Preview of the launch of negotiations on the future of Kosovo on 20 February 2006, chaired by UN Deputy Special Envoy, Albert Rohan. The talks, which were to bring together representatives from the Serbian and the Kosovo Governments were expected to focus on local government reform in Kosovo and enhancing the powers of local authorities. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Serbia |
