Albert Rohan: No realistic alternative to UN proposalFebruary 19, 2007 - 17:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - There is "no realistic alternative" to a UN proposal that would put Kosovo on the road to eventual independence, Serbia would lose nothing under the plan, Albert Rohan, an Austrian diplomat serving as deputy to UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, said, according to the Kurier newspaper. In his words, the plan for Kosovo will be presented next month to the UN Security Council, which will have the final say. A final round of negotiations between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership, which is pushing for full independence, and delegates from Serbia, which insists the southern province must remain part of Serbian territory, begins Wednesday in the Austrian capital. Rohan said it is "very improbable" that the Vienna talks would produce a compromise. "A continuation of the present situation is untenable," Rohan was quoted as saying, "Without a roadmap for Kosovo's future its rival sides almost certainly will destabilize the province." Two-thirds of the 58-page draft proposal - which would give Kosovo the trappings of statehood, such as a flag, anthem, army and constitution - focus on strengthening protections for the province's 100.000-member Serb minority. "Kosovo has not been under Serbian administration since 1999, when NATO airstrikes on Belgrade ended former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic's brutal crackdown on independence-minded ethnic Albanians and put the province under UN administration. We want to create conditions in which Kosovo's people can live safe and normal lives. If Kosovo's Serbs examine our suggestions without prejudice, they'll see no reason to reject them," said the Austrian diplomat. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |