Ceku to ask Ischinger to "clarify remarks"

Agim Ceku said Tuesday he would ask EU envoy Wolfgang Ischinger to "clarify his statement" to a British daily. Kosovo's prime minister told Reuters, ahead of the Contact Group Troika consultations with Belgrade and Kosovo Albanian delegations in London, that he would ask Ischinger to explain statements made to The Independent, and that the paper had "perhaps misinterpreted his words." Ceku to ask Ischinger to "clarify remarks" "Despite all that nothing can change the wish of the Albanian people in Kosovo that is on the path to independence," Ceku told Reuters. The London daily said the international community was backing away from a clear endorsement of independence for Kosovo. The Independent quoted Ischinger as saying that "Kosovo is no longer being offered internationally-supervised independence from Serbia,", and concluded the development is "an apparent concession to Belgrade and Moscow that is likely to infuriate the disputed province's ethnic Albanian majority." Ischinger said that it was time to get away from "labels" in order to achieve a "realistic" solution for Kosovo. "The label is worth nothing. Where are they going to get their income from? They would continue to rely on foreign aid," Ischinger was quoted referring to the Kosovo Albanians declared desire to unilaterally declare independence. His remarks came a day ahead of the latest round of Kosovo talks the Troika will hold in London with representatives of Belgrade and Pristina. Asked whether the ultimate outcome of the latest negotiations could be internationally-supervised independence, Ischinger replied: "I would say that we will try to reach a status solution which will provide for an internationally-supervised status for Kosovo. I would leave open independence. I would rather talk about a strong supervised status." However he added that talks so far had "made some progress, drawing both parties away from the label. Independence versus autonomy is a gap which cannot be bridged if you look at the fine print. International supervision is accepted." Ischinger also indicated that the Troika had given further ground by agreeing to a Serbian demand that the Ahtisaari plan would not form the basis for the talks. "I would not insist on the Ahtisaari package, but it's not off the table," he said. Contact Group mediating Troika. Wolfgang Ischinger, middle (FoNet)

Ceku to ask Ischinger to "clarify remarks"

"Despite all that nothing can change the wish of the Albanian people in Kosovo that is on the path to independence," Ceku told Reuters.

The London daily said the international community was backing away from a clear endorsement of independence for Kosovo.

The Independent quoted Ischinger as saying that "Kosovo is no longer being offered internationally-supervised independence from Serbia,", and concluded the development is "an apparent concession to Belgrade and Moscow that is likely to infuriate the disputed province's ethnic Albanian majority."

Ischinger said that it was time to get away from "labels" in order to achieve a "realistic" solution for Kosovo.

"The label is worth nothing. Where are they going to get their income from? They would continue to rely on foreign aid," Ischinger was quoted referring to the Kosovo Albanians declared desire to unilaterally declare independence.

His remarks came a day ahead of the latest round of Kosovo talks the Troika will hold in London with representatives of Belgrade and Priština.

Asked whether the ultimate outcome of the latest negotiations could be internationally-supervised independence, Ischinger replied: "I would say that we will try to reach a status solution which will provide for an internationally-supervised status for Kosovo. I would leave open independence. I would rather talk about a strong supervised status."

However he added that talks so far had "made some progress, drawing both parties away from the label. Independence versus autonomy is a gap which cannot be bridged if you look at the fine print. International supervision is accepted."

Ischinger also indicated that the Troika had given further ground by agreeing to a Serbian demand that the Ahtisaari plan would not form the basis for the talks.

"I would not insist on the Ahtisaari package, but it's not off the table," he said.