Diplomatic balancing act on issue of Kosovo Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis's tour aimed to bridge differences between ethnic Albanians and Serbs and find solutions
Albanian leaders Ibrahim Rugova (center) and Ramush Harandinaj (right) in Pristina gave Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis (left) a warm welcome, a sign that the traditional suspicion of Albanian Kosovars toward Greece is abating. By Stavros Tzimas - Kathimerini It is precisely one year since the outbreak of violence in Kosovo in March 2004, and there is intensive dialogue both in public and behind the scenes about a definitive settlement of the area's status. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis's tour last week of Belgrade, Pristina and Zagreb indicated Greece's participation in the international community's effort to boost stability in the Western Balkans and avert new and more dangerous crises. Karamanlis had talks with the leaders of Serbia-Montenegro, Croatia and Kosovo as premier of an EU and NATO member state which in May will take over the presidency of the Inter-Balkan summit and in June will take over the presidency of the UN Security Council when discussions on Kosovo begin. European spirit Karamanlis conveyed to the prime ministers and presidents of the countries he toured what he described as "clear" Greek positions that are in the spirit of prevailing EU ideas for a solution of the Kosovo problem and the European prospects of countries in the region. The premier said it was Greece's strategic decision to promote the European prospects of the countries that emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia, and to connect that with the transformation of the explosive area into a "European neighborhood." In order to pave the way for such an outcome, the wound of Kosovo must first be healed, but the international community has not yet found the cure, a viable solution that will guarantee the multiethnic nature of its protectorate and bring peace to the region. Naturally, Karamanlis did not bring a magic potion with him. But previewing the opening in June of a dialogue on Kosovo that has met the criteria set by the Security Council - such as the creation of democratic institutions, protection of minorities, return of Serb refugees and other reforms - so that talks can start on its final status, the premier explained Greece's views to all sides concerned. What did he tell them? That progress toward their future status must be the outcome of dialogue, that it must proceed from peaceful measures and that any discussions and developments should emerge from the UN framework. The Greek view is that the solution requires the close cooperation of the EU, US and Russia and, of course, the participation of Belgrade throughout the discussions and the determination of the region's future status. The prerequisite for a settlement is that the well-known criteria be met by the June deadline set by the Security Council, and in that respect, after the tragic events of last March, the situation does not inspire optimism. "At this stage we must turn our attention to meeting the conditions set by the international community," Karamanlis told the leaders. "Despite the efforts that have been made, it is clear that progress has not been satisfactory. Efforts must be made immediately for the security of the non-Albanian minorities in Kosovo." Unanswered question The question which hovered over these meetings and which has not yet been answered in international centers that follow the Western Balkan crisis was what formula would be acceptable to both sides, namely the Serbs and the ethnic Albanians. Karamanlis encountered diametrically opposed stances, on which Belgrade and Pristina are intransigent. The Serbian leadership rejects independence, while the Albanian Kosovars insist on it. The Serbs in Belgrade insist in defiance of reality that "Kosovo is Serbia," and from that point on, opinions about a solution diverge. The Greek delegation, which included Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, State Minister Theodoros Roussopoulos, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis and Balkan specialist Alexandros Mallias, was able to witness at first hand the confusion of the Serbs. This impelled the Greek prime minister to advise his interlocutors to forget the restoration of Kosovo to its pre-1999 status and to concentrate on formulating a joint position so they could bring their demands to the talks on the final status of Kosovo and not miss that opportunity. "You have to speak in public with one voice," said Karamanlis, but it is not clear whether his advice was listened to, given that Vojislav Kostunica, Milan Tadic and other political leaders in Belgrade tremble at the notion of any so-called concessions over Kosovo that would bring Vojislav Seselj's nationalists closer to power, ready to exploit anything they saw as betrayal. The Albanians in Pristina also seemed inflexible about the final status - they want no less than full independence. Yet their leaders Ibrahim Rugova and Ramush Haradinaj and the media in Pristina gave the Greek premier a warm welcome, a sign that the traditional suspicion of Albanian Kosovars toward Greece has begun to abate. Karamanlis's tour made it clear that Athens wants to participate in ongoing developments in the Western Balkans and above all in Kosovo as a reliable interlocutor and intermediary. Government sources note that Greek initiatives will continue at all levels, as the options for solving the problem in Kosovo are narrowing and when, at any moment, the volcano might erupt as it did last March. http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_ell_3279031_07/03/2005_53773 http://www.antic.org Serbian News Network - SNN news@antic.org http://www.antic.org/
