The six-nation Kosovo Contact Group on Tuesday finished its
two-day talks with delegates from southeastern European countries
on the future status of Kosovo.
According to reports, the meeting discussed possible solutions
for the future status of the breakaway region. Representatives
hoped the Serbian and Albanian parties could make compromises and
reach a deal soon so that southeastern European countries and
regions, including Kosovo, could fully participate as members of
greater Europe.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said on Monday, while
hosting the meeting, that it was important to create opportunities
for more talks on the Kosovo issue. He hoped all concerned parties
could reach an agreement on the status of Kosovo in the coming
months.
According to Kalfin, the agreement should contain several key
elements: a guarantee of the stability of the Kosovo region; the
plans for setting up a stable government; the protection of the
rights of local minorities and also of the region's historical and
cultural heritage.
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Kosovo has been under UN administration since 1999 following a NATO
bombing campaign that drove out Serb forces accused of ethnic
cleansing. Ninety percent of the southern Serb province's two
million people are ethnic Albanians.
UN-brokered talks are underway to determine whether Kosovo will
remain part of Serbia, as sought by the government in Belgrade, or
become independent, as the vast majority of Kosovo's residents
want.
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2006)
