The talks in Vienna on 21 February 2007 centred on the proposal drafted by Ahtisaari and presented in Belgrade and Pristina on 2 February (see EurActiv 05/02/2007). The plan outlines a form of internationally supervised statehood for Kosovo.
The aim is to give both parties concerned the chance to comment on the entire draft, issue by issue. Ahtisaari said that the first meeting was "a good beginning", however, positions remain divided. While Serbia insists that Kosovo remain part of its territory, Kosovars demand independence for the ethnic Albanian province. Kosovo has been under international civil and military administration since the 1999 conflict.The
The Serbian negotiator said that they "rejected all provisions of the Ahtisaari proposal which are inconsistent with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia". Instead they want to offer Kosovo a "very broad, extensive autonomy" within the state of Serbia.
Kosovo’s delegation demanded full independence from Serbia and said: "For us this chapter has ended and this book has been closed."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country holds the power of veto in the UN Security Council, insisted that "a decision on Kosovo must be negotiated and must be subject of agreement by both sides".
The talks will continue until 10 March 2007 - Ahtisaari will then submit the plan to the Security Council, which will take the final decision.
