Fifth round of direct talks in Brussels
Belgrade and Pristina and holding in Brussels the fifth round of direct talks under the auspices of the Troika, which appears divided on how to proceed further in the process.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Belgrade delegation, led by President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, insists that its "substantial autonomy" is the best compromise solution for Kosovo, and is attempting to prove its functionality by comparing it with the examples of Hong Kong and the Aland Island, among others.
The Pristina delegation, led by President Fatmir Sejdiu as well as present and likely future prime ministers Agim Ceku and Hashim Thaci, is refusing all options except independence and is insisting that no compromise is possible.
The Albanian delegation has repeated it would declare a unilateral independence after the December 10 deadline for a Troika report to the UN, but that it would do that in coordination with the US and some EU countries favorable to such a decision.
The EU member of the Contact Group Troika Wolfgang Ischinger has hinted he would be presenting a "status neutral" proposal, but that he would need to discuss it first with the rest of the Troika, given that the Russian member, Alexander Bolcan-Harchenko is not agreeing to it.
Harchenko has expressed his preference for Belgrade's Hong Kong-type solution.
The talks are being held at the EU headquarters.
