blinkx

  • SERBIA: US urges full support for UN Kosovo Plan

  • 00:01:49
  • ITN Source
    • Browse

SERBIA: US urges full support for UN Kosovo Plan

The United States urged support for a United Nations blueprint for the eventual independence of Serbia's Kosovo province on Monday (February 5, 2007), which Russia says must first win the backing of Belgrade. UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari on Friday (February 2) unveiled a plan which though he did not say explicitly would set Kosovo on the path to independence, almost eight years since NATO bombs wrested control of the majority Albanian province from Serbia. Top European Union foreign policy officials were in Moscow on Monday to try to win over Russia to the plan, which needs a new UN Security Council resolution to take effect. Ahtisaari mediated months of fruitless Serb-Albanian talks in 2006. He has invited Serbia and the Kosovo Albanians to fresh consultations between February 13 and March 2 in Vienna before sending the final proposal to the Security Council. Kosovo, where 90 percent of the 2 million people are ethnic Albanians, has been run by the United Nations since 11 weeks of NATO bombing in 1999 drove out Serb forces accused of killing and expelling civilians in a two-year counter-insurgency war. "I can say that we continue to have the support of the United States of America for a fast and good quality process which will satisfy the will of the majority," said Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu after meeting US envoy. "United States believes that this is an excellent proposal it deserves full support. We also extend our hopes and encouragement to all parties to take advantage of presidents Ahtisaari's invitation, to engage in discussions in Vienna," Washington 's Kosovo envoy, Frank Wisner, told reporters in the Kosovo capital, Pristina. Russia, Serbia 's sometime Orthodox ally, holds a veto in the UN Security Council and has insisted any solution on Kosovo should have Belgrade's backing. Serbia which is trying to form a new coalition government after an inconclusive January election, has yet to confirm it will attend.

ITN Source | February 6, 2007Watch more videos from ITN Source

Tags:. .forces. .source. .million. .friday. .support











Accused   Advantage   Ahtisaaris   Albanians   Almost   Belgrade   Believes   Blueprint   Bombing   Bombs   Civilians   Consultations   Control   Council   Counterinsurgency   Deserves   Drove   Effect   Eight   Encouragement   Engage   Envoy   Ethnic   European   Eventual   Excellent   Expelling   Explicitly   Extend   Fast   February   Forces   Foreign   Frank   Fresh   Friday   Fruitless   Independence   Invitation   Invited   Kosovo   Majority   March   Martti   Mediated   Million   Monday   Moscow   Must   Nato   Path   Percent   Policy   Process   Proposal   Province   Quality   Resolution   Russia   Satisfy   Security   Sending   Serbias   Since   Source   Support   Though   Told   Twoyear   Union   Unveiled   Urged   Urges   Vienna   Washington   Wrested