Should the talks fail, it is clear that Ahtisaari's plan will remain the only document for closing the issue, Koucher told reporters after meeting Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, adding that France advocated a solution that would be acceptable to both Pristina and Belgrade, so that the region could finally achieve stability.
France will not unilaterally recognise Kosovo's independence, the French minister said, expressing hope that other countries would not do that either.
Kouchner said his country also advocated Serbia's joining the European Union as soon as possible, stressing, however, that the Kosovo issue must be resolved before that.
Serbia must join the EU, this process was reopened in June and the country can see France as an ally on the path to entering the bloc as soon as possible, Kouchner noted. But when I say that, do not think that this will be possible before the peaceful resolving of the Kosovo issue, Kouchner said, adding that talks on a new text of the Kosovo resolution were expected to begin this week. Judging by what was said at a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday, Russia's reaction to the new proposal is not all that negative, Kouchner said.
Jeremic reiterated that Kosovo's independence was unacceptable for Belgrade, as was Ahtisaari's plan because the plan is not the result of agreement and compromise.
Belgrade will not revise its position in the future, Jeremic said, adding that Serbia advocated a compromise solution and that authorities in Belgrade were prepared to negotiate but not indefinitely.
"Let us hope that the negotiations will be comprehensive and that they will lead to a compromise solution acceptable to both sides and to permanent stabilisation of the region, which is also the fundamental condition for the integration of the entire region into the EU," Jeremic said. He expressed hope Serbia would sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU by the end of this year and become a candidate for EU membership in the second half of 2008 during France's presidency of the bloc.
Later this afternoon, the French minister is expected to hold talks with Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. Kouchner is scheduled to travel to Pristina on Friday.