Kosovo report to be submitted 3 days ahead of scheduleDecember 6, 2007 - 12:29 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that international mediators in talks on Kosovo would submit a report on talks on the province's status on Friday, three days ahead of schedule. The Contact Group troika of mediators - Russia, the United States and the European Union - concluded months of talks last week, and was due to report to Ban Ki-moon on negotiations geared towards a compromise between Belgrade and Pristina on December 10, a deadline set by the UN. The secretary general said that rescheduling the report was not politically motivated, but due to his upcoming trip to an international global climate conference in Bali. EU representative Wolfgang Ischinger told a news conference on Monday that the report would state that Belgrade and Pristina had failed to reach a compromise on the status for the Albanian-dominated province. The document will also list the proposals made by both the Serbian delegation and Kosovo Albanians. The troika denied that the report would contain any concrete proposals for a solution to the issue of Kosovo. During the latest round of negotiations held in Austria last week, Serbia reiterated offers for broad autonomy while Kosovo, a UN protectorate since 1999, continued to insist on full independence. Kosovo has threatened to unilaterally declare independence in January if no agreement is reached with Serbia, while Belgrade has warned it may impose an economic blockade on the small impoverished region if Kosovo Albanians carry out their threat. The U.S. and some European countries back Kosovo's independence, while Russia, Serbia's long-time ally, says independence would have a knock-on effect for other separatist regions, including in former Soviet republics, and insists on the resolution of security and humanitarian problems in the region, particularly the return of refugees and displaced persons, RIA Novosti reports. Parliamentary elections in Kosovo on November 17 were won by former rebel leader Hashim Thaci, who has vowed to declare independence for Kosovo. The province's ethnic Serb population (around 6%) boycotted the election. A NATO bombing campaign against the former Yugoslavia ended a bloody war between Serb forces and Albanian separatists in 1999. Top stories 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". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |