SERBIA: Serbs wait for news from Vienna on the future of Kosovo

As diplomats meet in Vienna to discuss the future of Kosovo, Serbs wait to find out if a solution will be imposed upon them. As fresh talks were launched on the future of Kosovo in Vienna on Thursday (August 30), Serbs wait to find out what path international diplomats will take. European Union (EU) envoy Wolfgang Ischinger and fellow mediators from the United States and Russia have until December 10 to find a compromise between the Kosovo Albanian demand for full independence and Serbia's refusal to concede anything beyond wide autonomy to the province, run by the United Nations and NATO for the past eight years. The Serbs are leaning on Russia for diplomatic support and the Kosovo Albanians, who make up 90 percent of the territory's population, place their hopes mainly on the United States. On the streets of the Serbian capital on Friday (August 31), some believed that a compromise was possible, and that Kosovo should be given limited independence. Belgrade resident, Stanko Jovanovic said: "If we give legitimacy to some form of independence of Kosovo I think we can become partners with them really soon, that we can live with them, work with them." "For the Serbian community in Kosovo, conditions should be met for the full protection of their rights, and most importantly to stop the new exodus of Serbs that happened before in other territories," he added. But others saw no room for compromise. "We should take up weapons and defend Kosovo. Kosovo is Serbian. It's not Albanian, no?" said Mirko. Steeped in Serb history and legend, Kosovo has been beyond Belgrade's control since 1999 when NATO occupied the province after bombing Serbia for 11 weeks to force an end its brutal suppression of an Albanian revolt. It is home to two million Albanians and 100,000 Serbs. Serb prime minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Thursday (August 30): "I'm certain that the Security Council will never adopt a resolution which will legally, from one country - member of the UN, take part of its territory." Serb Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said: "I think that in that regard there is a growing understanding in the international community that imposing a solution is not going, is not going to bring peace and stability in the Balkans." "It is only through the continuation of talks leading to a compromise solution we can hope to achieve a long lasting sustainable peace in this part of the world," he added. But diplomats say there is no more hope of a deal in the next three months than there was last year, and NATO allies with 16,000 troops on the ground fear any provocation by either side could quickly escalate into violence.

ITN Source | August 31, 2007

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