The United Nations will postpone the decision on Kosovo's future status until after Serbia's elections on January 21, news agencies quoted UN special envoy Ahtisaari as saying on Friday. A decision to that effect was made at a Contact Group meeting in Vienna, Reuters said.
Milan Ivanovic, the leader of the Serb National Council in the north of Kosovo, said that Ahtisaari's decision reflected the fact that setting artificial deadlines and attempts to impose solutions was something that some circles in the international community had overcome.
Ivanovic also believes that "the principled policy of Serbian officials" has convinced the Finnish diplomat to arrive at such a decision.
Marko Jaksic, a Kosovo Serb who is a member of Serbia's negotiating team, also hailed the latest decision as sensible.