This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6293880.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US and EU revise Kosovo UN draft | US and EU revise Kosovo UN draft |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Europe and the US have revised a draft UN resolution on the status of Kosovo, dropping a promise of independence for the province if talks with Serbia fail. | Europe and the US have revised a draft UN resolution on the status of Kosovo, dropping a promise of independence for the province if talks with Serbia fail. |
| An earlier draft called for four months of talks between the two sides, but also included a plan for independence. | An earlier draft called for four months of talks between the two sides, but also included a plan for independence. |
| Russia had threatened to veto the plan and Serbia rejected the draft. | Russia had threatened to veto the plan and Serbia rejected the draft. |
| The US ambassador to the US says the latest draft is still being finalised, and would be put to the Security Council following talks with Russia. | The US ambassador to the US says the latest draft is still being finalised, and would be put to the Security Council following talks with Russia. |
| On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned against any further delay in determining the future of the breakaway Serbian province. | |
| 'Council review' | 'Council review' |
| The new text, drafted by Western members of the UN Security Council, also calls for four months of talks between Kosovo's ethnic majority Albanians and Serbia. | The new text, drafted by Western members of the UN Security Council, also calls for four months of talks between Kosovo's ethnic majority Albanians and Serbia. |
| But instead of offering independence, the UN now says it will "review the situation further" if talks fail. | But instead of offering independence, the UN now says it will "review the situation further" if talks fail. |
| We have to stop pretending that the UN Security Council has an answer to every question Agim CekuKosovo prime minister | We have to stop pretending that the UN Security Council has an answer to every question Agim CekuKosovo prime minister |
| The draft is still being finalised, US ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad said. | The draft is still being finalised, US ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad said. |
| "We are meeting with our Russian colleague," he said, adding that the draft would be circulated "within two to three days" based on the outcome of those talks. | "We are meeting with our Russian colleague," he said, adding that the draft would be circulated "within two to three days" based on the outcome of those talks. |
| UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan to install an EU overseer and EU-led police forces to replace the current UN mission remains in the draft. | UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan to install an EU overseer and EU-led police forces to replace the current UN mission remains in the draft. |
| But it stops short of the previous roadmap to "supervised independence" that would let Kosovo join international institutions. | But it stops short of the previous roadmap to "supervised independence" that would let Kosovo join international institutions. |
| This new draft is the UN's third attempt to seek support from Russia, which insists that Kosovo can only become independent with Belgrade's consent. | This new draft is the UN's third attempt to seek support from Russia, which insists that Kosovo can only become independent with Belgrade's consent. |
| 'European problem' | 'European problem' |
| Meanwhile, Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku has called for a new approach to decide the province's future. | Meanwhile, Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku has called for a new approach to decide the province's future. |
| After talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Mr Ceku said Kosovo's status was a "European problem" and, with time running out to find a solution, it was now necessary to sidestep the UN. | After talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Mr Ceku said Kosovo's status was a "European problem" and, with time running out to find a solution, it was now necessary to sidestep the UN. |
| "We have to stop pretending that the UN Security Council has an answer to every question," Mr Ceku said. | "We have to stop pretending that the UN Security Council has an answer to every question," Mr Ceku said. |
| Mr Solana said he had faith in the UN's ability to resolve the situation. | Mr Solana said he had faith in the UN's ability to resolve the situation. |
| Kosovo has been administered by the UN since 1999, when it took over control of the territory following a Nato bombing campaign targeting Serb forces. | Kosovo has been administered by the UN since 1999, when it took over control of the territory following a Nato bombing campaign targeting Serb forces. |
| Nato intervened to halt a violent crackdown by Serbia against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, some of whom had taken up arms. | Nato intervened to halt a violent crackdown by Serbia against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, some of whom had taken up arms. |