Kosovo is probably going to affect the future developments in the Western Balkans. Therefore, Mr. Ahtisaari’s proposals for Kosovo on 2 February 2007 marks a new stage.

UN interim international administration (UNMIK) was created by UN Res 1244 in 1999. The UN Secretary General appointed a special envoy, Kai Eide, to undertake a comprehensive overview of the situation in Kosovo. On the basis of his report, the Secretary General recommended that the process of settling Kosovo’s status should commence. Soren Jessen-Petersen, the head of UNMIK, said that the status quo was not sustainable. (2) The Security Council in October 2005 authorized the Secretary General to appoint former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari to start a political process to determine Kosovo’s future status. Martti Ahtisaari started its mission on 20 February 2006. The key issue is the creation of a Kosovo that will have the greatest chance of lasting stability and development.

Since it was unlikely that any Serbian government would acquiesce to an independent Kosovo, many people thought that Mr. Ahtisaari should impose an independence package for Kosovo. From the historical point of view, Serbs argue their historical right to Kosovo, Albanians claim they are the descendants of the Illyrians, whose presence pre-dated the Serbs’ arrival in the Balkans by several centuries.

We can observe that the EU is determined to play an active role in Kosovo’s status process. It has appointed a representative to support the UN Status Envoy. EU will use its influence to help reach a balanced and sustainable settlement. It will also play its part in the international presence that will be required.

Real negotiations have been going on for a year.

The first high level meeting was held in Vienna on 24 July 2006. The President and the Prime Minister of Serbia and the President and the Prime Minister of Kosovo headed the two delegations. Before and after this meeting also direct talks took place between the parties on the decentralization of governmental and administrative function of Kosovo.

The UN Secretary General reported to the Security Council on 1 September 2006 that the positions of Serbian and Kosovo delegations remained committed to “substantial autonomy” and “full independence” respectively, with minimal space for negotiation. He said that they should show flexibility. (5) Thereupon, the Security Council held a meeting on 22 September 2006 on Kosovo. There was a call from interested states for Ahtisaari to prepare a comprehensive proposal for a settlement and for all possible efforts to be made to achieve a negotiated settlement in 2006. The Contact Group (US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Russia) met Ahtisaari.

However, the proposal of Mr. Ahtisaari was postponed to 2007 and it came on 2 February 2007. The proposal does not contain any reference to Serbian sovereignty over Kosovo; also it does not mention “independence” for Kosovo. It creates an international envoy mandated by UN and EU with power to intervene in government. This gives the impression that the formation of a sui generis state is being contemplated. Kosovo will have the right to use national symbols including flag and anthem: It will be able to join international organizations such as UN and IMF, NATO and EU forces in military and policing roles will be kept. The non-Albanian minority will be protected. Kosovo will not be able to join Albania; the Serb areas will not split off and joint Serbia.

Kosovo is a test case for the European Union. The struggle between the West and Russia will determine the solution on Kosovo. On 2 February, when the Kosovo status proposals were presented to the two parties in Belgrade and Pristina, the German Presidency of the EU urged the two parties to approach the upcoming negotiations in a serious manner and without reservations. There was a need for a realistic compromise. The US State Department, on its part, said the Proposal was fair and balanced and called on the two parties to engage constructively with the Special Envoy in a period of consultations to finalize the settlement. The Russian side indicated their opposition to any formula which is not accepted by the parties to the conflict. It remains to be seen what turns the Kosovo problem will take in the coming months.