PRISTINA, Nov 6 (Hina) - A joint document signed in Belgrade Monday by the UN civil administrator to Kosovo, Hans Haekkerup, and the Serbian government's coordinator for cooperation with the UNMIK, Nebojsa Covic, does not prejudge
what the final status o Kosovo will be, but does not exclude the possibility that such a decision might be made in the future when institutions who win in the Kosovo general elections come into power. The document clearly states that the temporary self-governing institutions do not have the right to proclaim independence. However, the document, as well as the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 are neutral and do not exclude any possibility, Haekkerup told a news conference in Pristina late Monday night. He also refuted Nebojsa Covic's claim that they had agreed on restoring some of Serbia's and Yugoslavia's rule to Kosovo. The signed document, Haekkerup continued, was applauded by the
PRISTINA, Nov 6 (Hina) - A joint document signed in Belgrade Monday
by the UN civil administrator to Kosovo, Hans Haekkerup, and the
Serbian government's coordinator for cooperation with the UNMIK,
Nebojsa Covic, does not prejudge what the final status o Kosovo will
be, but does not exclude the possibility that such a decision might
be made in the future when institutions who win in the Kosovo
general elections come into power.
The document clearly states that the temporary self-governing
institutions do not have the right to proclaim independence.
However, the document, as well as the UN Security Council
Resolution 1244 are neutral and do not exclude any possibility,
Haekkerup told a news conference in Pristina late Monday night.
He also refuted Nebojsa Covic's claim that they had agreed on
restoring some of Serbia's and Yugoslavia's rule to Kosovo.
The signed document, Haekkerup continued, was applauded by the
international community, UN organisations, as well as the UN
Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.
The elections, and institutions which will be their result, now
have the respect and wider recognition because all ethnic
communities in Kosovo will participate in the elections, Haekkerup
said.
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and the Yugoslav and Serbian
government decided to publicly support the participation of Serbs
in the November 17 elections in Kosovo. The democratic regime in
Belgrade deserves commendation for the cooperation which is
positive for all communities in the Yugoslav province, he
concluded.
The document signed yesterday between the UN administrator and
senior Yugoslav officials on the participation of Serbs in the
Kosovo elections has caused harsh reactions among Kosovo
Albanians.
The three largest political parties in Kosovo, Democratic Alliance
of Kosovo, the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Alliance for the
Future of Kosovo, voiced support to Serbs voting in the election,
but resolutely opposed any meddling by Belgrade in the issue.
President of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Hashim Taqi, late last
night issued a public declaration stressing that those who signed
the document in Belgrade must realise that Kosovo had opted for
global democratic processes, not regressive process of restoring
Kosovo to Serbia.
Deputy president of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Muhamet
Keljmendi, said the party hailed the decision of Serbs voting, but
was against any kind of compromise or any mitigating circumstances
which might be in Belgrade's favour.
(hina) lml