EU dilemma over choice for Kosovo

Date: 07/12/00

By Simon Taylor

EU LEADERS have failed to reach agreement with other international powers on a replacement for Bernard Kouchner as head of the United Nations mission to Kosovo, prompting fears of increased instability at a time of renewed tension in the province between ethnic Albanians and Serbs.

Kouchner, who has run the province's administration since June, is due to step down in the next two weeks.

Paddy Ashdown, ex-marine and former leader of the UK Liberal Democrats, had been widely tipped to replace Kouchner. But diplomats said he was ruled out by the US because he was believed to favour Kosovo leaving the Yugoslav Federation.

Western governments fear that any moves to grant Kosovo independence could undermine support for Yugoslavia's new President Vojislav Kostunica in parliamentary elections in Serbia on 23 December. They are reluctant to take what would be seen as a pro-Albanian line and risk shattering his fragile 18-party coalition.

Ashdown insists that he declined an invitation from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to take up the post because it would clash with campaigning for the next UK general election.

The failure to find a replacement for Kouchner comes at a bad time for relations between ethnic Albanians and Serbs, and will increase fears that the international powers do not have the will to match last year's military action against Serbia with peace-making efforts.

EU leaders have failed to reach agreement with other international powers on a replacement for Bernard Kouchner as head of the United Nations mission to Kosovo, prompting fears of increased instability at a time of renewed tension in the province between ethnic Albanians and Serbs.