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KOSOVO REQUIRES A UNITED EUROPE... AND SO DOES EUROPE
Martti Ahtisaari
APRIL 2008 (IPS) - In November 2005, the UN Secretary-General, acting on the basis of the
conclusions of the Security Council that the situation in Kosovo is no
longer sustainable, asked me to lead the political process to
determine Kosovo's future status, writes Martti Ahtisaari,
former president of Finland and UN Secretary-General Special Envoy to Kosovo.
Almost a year after he
initially submitted his proposal, it became clear that the Security
Council would not pass a new resolution. Therefore, since everybody,
even the Russian Federation, agreed that the status quo in Kosovo was
not sustainable, a solution outside of the Security Council needed to
be found. The result we all know: many important countries, including
the United States and the majority of the EU, have recognised or committed themselves to recognise Kosovo's independence.
Kosovo is primarily a European issue and the EU cannot afford to let
Kosovo become just another 'frozen conflict'. Doing nothing was not an
option and my Settlement proposal provides an organised methodology
for a UN exit and EU takeover. This requires a strong, consistent, and
united European position in the coming months if we want Europe and
Balkans to be stable.
/NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, CZECH
REPUBLIC, IRELAND, POLAND, UNITED STATES, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM/ (END/2008)
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