Current developments in Kosovo
Kosovo status process
Following a proposal by Federal Minister Steinmeier, the Kosovo Contact Group agreed to mandate a troika made up of the European Union, Russia and the United States to once more conduct talks with Belgrade and Pristina. The German diplomat Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger will represent the EU in the talks on the future status of Kosovo. Federal Minister Steinmeier underlined the importance of all parties using the opportunity provided by this talks process to reach a consensus-based result if at all possible.
On 1 August 2007, the UN Secretary-General welcomed the start of the phase of renewed talks under the troika leadership. He expressed his hope that in these talks a solution could be found. The Contact Group will report to the UN Secretary-General by 10 December.
From early 2006, the UN Special Envoy for Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, engaged in direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina in an attempt to find a solution to the future status of the province which has been administered by the UN since 1999. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon submitted Ahtisaari's report and proposals together with a letter of support to the UN Security Council on 26 March 2007. The members of the Security Council have however not as yet been able to agree on a Security Council resolution on the basis of these proposals.
Details of the package of proposals can be found on www.unosek.org
Germany is playing an active role in shaping the international community's policy on Kosovo. The aim of the Federal Government and its partners in the Contact Group is the establishment of a democratic Kosovo based on the rule of law in which all inhabitants – regardless of their ethnic background – can live in peace and security. The primary goal is to achieve permanent stability in the entire region. The Federal Government and numerous German non-governmental organizations are providing substantial reconstruction assistance to this end. Germany has held the rotating command of the overall KFOR operation several times and at present has around 2200 soldiers on the ground in Kosovo. The EU and the OSCE are also very much engaged.
Kosovo status negotiations
On 24 October 2005, the UN Security Council gave the green light for the start of talks on the future status of Kosovo. The Security Council's decision was based on the Kosovo report by the UN Special Envoy Ambassador Eide assessing the implementation of the so-called Kosovo standards for democracy, the rule of law and economic development. Ambassador Eide concluded in his report that the status process should be launched with a view to stabilizing the situation and improve standards implementation.
Under the leadership of the Balkans Contact Group, which includes Germany along with France, Britain, Italy, Russia and the United States, the international community has formulated the most important parameters for the status process and a permanent status solution. For instance, there is consensus that any solution on status must help strengthen regional security and stability and that as a result any return to a pre-1999 Kosovo, its partition or its annexation to a third state are excluded. There is also agreement that the protection of the rights of the various communities and minorities in Kosovo must be a central concern. Finally, the prospect of future integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures is reaffirmed (see documents).
United Nations administration in Kosovo
Kosovo has been under United Nations (UN) administration since 1999. The basis for this is UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999, which mandates UNMIK (United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) to establish a local interim administration to restore normal living conditions in the wake of the war. Under international law, however, Kosovo still belongs to Serbia.
On 1 September 2006 German diplomat Joachim Rücker became the new head of UNMIK in Kosovo. The position had become vacant after the resignation of Sören Jessen-Petersen, a Dane, in June. Joachim Rücker had previously been responsible for economic reconstruction at the UN mission in Kosovo since February 2005.
Last updated 30.07.2007