Prishtina, July 11, 2005 (KosovaLive) -
Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi said that Belgrade has no power to determine
Kosovas future Kosovar citizens will make this decision. He made these
comments at a seminar on status organized today by Forum Kosova 2015, where
the report The Status Issue, Political Challenges, and Kosovas Road to
European Integration was presented. Kosumi believes that Belgrade should
not be excluded from other issues, but he said that Albanians must determine
their childrens future.
He said that status is an issue not only for the Government and the
Parliament but also for all Kosovars, whose voices should be as strong as
those of government officials. The time has come for essential decisions
to be made. The process for resolving Kosovas status will be officially
initiated in September and it will last until June 2006, Kosumi said.
Kosumi also mentioned some essential reasons for which the settlement of
status cannot be postponed: democratic and economic development, enhanced
relations with regional countries, and, most important, the interest of
Kosovar citizens.
Deputy Chief of UNMIK Larry Rossin said that this is a debate for Kosovar
society and not for UNMIK that UNMIK can only facilitate the process that
will lead to the settlement of Kosovas political status. Rossin cautioned
Kosovar leaders and civil representatives not to introduce historical
arguments into dialogue because the settlement of Kosovas status is
essential for political and economic development and social stability.
Rossin also said that Kosovars should present strong arguments demonstrating
that they can protect minorities.
The report on The Status Issue, Political Challenges, and Kosovas Road to
European Integration was presented by Muhamedin Kullashi, a board member of
Forum Kosova 2015. The report offers recommendations on how Kosovar
politicians can prepare for status talks. According to the report, the only
historically fair and long-lasting political solution is independence
because, in the past, Kosova was a constitutive part of the former Yugoslav
Federation.
Ekrem Beqiri presented the results of a survey on the opinions of Kosovars
Serbs and Albanians on the status issue. Of the 1.300 respondents, 93% of
Albanians said that they support independence. 90% of Serbs support the
status of autonomous province and other solutions less than independence.
Almost all other minorities are in favor of independence. The majority of
Albanians reported that their greatest concerns are status, unemployment,
and poverty. Serbs reported that their greatest concerns are freedom of
movement, general safety and ethnic relations. (shaip mustafa)
Serbian News Network - SNN
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