PRŠTINA -- Kosovo prime minister Agim Ceku said he expects Kosovo to declare independence by the end of May.
Source: AFP, New York Times, International Herald Tribune
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The province’s final status, however, has yet to be agreed by the UN Security Council and Russia has threatened to veto a current plan, the agency reported.
"I expect Kosovo to be able to declare its independence by the end of May," Ceku said in a New York Times interview published Monday.
"There is a very strong U.S. commitment to do this," he said, adding that, "It wants to finish the job. Britain's (prime minister) Tony Blair is on board, too."
"With the G-8 meeting due to take place in June, I don't think Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany will want G-8 countries to attend the summit without resolving Kosovo's status," he was quoted.
The International Herald Tribune reports that Ceku, a former KLA commander, said “enough time had been spent discussing the Ahtisaari plan”.
"Russia is using Kosovo to prove it is a player," Ceku also said.
"Our friends who are realistic and countries that have invested soldiers, money and eight years of engagement here, and who are planning to be present, want an end to this unresolved status," Ceku said.
"Why should those countries which have not invested time, money and people here block a UN resolution? Saying no to the Ahtisaari proposal would be a big decision," he continued.
"There are Serbian leaders, radicals and politicians who are using Kosovo as a propaganda hit for them," Ceku said.
"On the other side, you have moderate, young people who are tired of all these old stories about Kosovo. They want to look forward and join Europe. Serbia is being blocked by the old past."
The newspaper reports Ceku said he was convinced that many Serbs wanted the UN Security Council to take the burden from them and to discharge the responsibility over Kosovo.
"The biggest service Koštunica could do for the Kosovo Serbs is to let them go," he said. "As soon as he understands it, then he will be a great patriot."
I wish Tadic and Kostunica, only to name these two, were just as realistic as PM Ceku. Most of the countries in this world, having in mind the results of the Milosoevic's era, believe that the only way out of the impass is independence for Kosovo. All the Serbs will have to face reality and consider coldly that Kosovo is no longer a province of Serbia, and has become an Albanian country.
(Victor, 30 April 2007 14:57)
Well we shall just have to wait and see if Ceku is right!!
I have my doubts given that he keeps on shifting his mind on deadlines definetly 2006, early 2007 and now suggesting May!!! We can expect another comment for Ceku in the next few weeks - Independence by end of 2007!!!
Oh by the way the UN don't like to be held hostage by deadlines and as such Ceku has drawn a line in the sand for himself - the UN will keep him waiting!!!
(Princip, UK, 30 April 2007 15:58)
That would be a very bad move! Even the West has told the Albanians living in SERBIAN KOSOVO not to rush into declaring independence. Russia is more than just a player, and has said that if the separatist Albanians resort to violence that all talk over the status of Kosovo should & will end. Supervised Autonomy is the best deal for everyone, and that is better then any MINORITY can achieve in any given country. Ceku & other extremists should not take promises that the US, UK have given them as a blank check for independence. That type of thinking promotes an uncompromising atmosphere in the separatist Albanians and is the main reason why there is still no agreement.
(Zoran, 30 April 2007 16:02)
i'v seen a articel today that Albanian voulenteers in northern Greece that want it to becaume automos like KOSOVO is, then indepedent? whats next half of makedonia?
(Whats next?, 30 April 2007 16:14)
I don t believe that a solution to the conflict should take any longer than it should. I was extremely upset with the Serbs for constantly trying to extend the clock without then making any attempt to extract concessions from the Kosovo albanians. Although, I fault the Serbs for wasting precious time, I am extremely wary that Ceku is creating expectations that will not be fulfilled. I see that he is trying to create pressure, but when the time comes to negotiate, he will have to find a means to make concessions without losing too much face. I laud NATO for telling the Kosovo Albanians to not make unilateral moves without consultation. I think he and the U.S. will soon realize that more time is needed than previously thought. In all, I find that Europe should lead and set the tone for those necessary ammendments to the Ahtissari. I believe that the Kosovo Albanians are in a position to make important concessions, such as partition, that could lead to a negotiated solution. The great powers should push them to this outcome.
(Jorge Garcia, 30 April 2007 16:56)
We have one group of muslims - the Bosniaks, demanding that Serbia comply with international law, and then we have another set of muslims, their brothers, the Kosovo Albanians, demanding that the UN defy International Law. Looks like they want to have thier cake and eat it.
(PB, 30 April 2007 18:56)
Partition would be the best deal for both sides. Unfortunately the Albanians will not get everything that they want though i.e. independence for the albanians in presevo valley. Splitting Kosovo up with the north going to serbia and the rest to the albanians woulod be a good deal for both sides and hopefully draw a line under this problem so that both sides can progress. the most ironic part of this whole sorry saga is that if by some miracle all the countries in the balkans ultimately join the EU, then under EU law any citizen of the Eu can live where they like in the EU!!! wonder what will happen if populations shift back to their original places??
(PB, 30 April 2007 19:02)
Ceku has it right, independence for Kosova in the next few weeks will be a reality, now if only Putin would remove his blinders. The EU and USA have sent Putin packing. Little Valadamir will have to go back to the schoolyard wearing shortpants. No more trying to play with the big boys.
While we are at it, it is time to deport all the Russian immigrant troublemakers out of Estonia.
(Arben Qosja, 30 April 2007 21:58)
Well, I would just support the partition of Kosovo in the north if the Albanian part could get the Presevo Valley in exchange.
(Bad Gorilla, 1 May 2007 05:30)