EU
envoy to visit Kosovo
PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro-The EU's envoy for Kosovo talks arrives
in the province Thursday to discuss the ongoing talks on finding a future
settlement and the EU's role in the process, an official said.
Stefan Lehne, who represents the EU in the U.N.-mediated talks, meets
with Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Agim Ceku and
other ethnic Albanian leaders involved in the negotiating process, said
Torbjorn Sohlstrom, an EU official in the province.
Lehne is also expected to discuss progress on reforms and EU's current
and future role in Kosovo during his two-day visit, Sohlstrom said. He
will also meet with an expert group dealing with the Balkan province's
economy in the status process.
Lehne was appointed the EU's representative to help former Finnish President
Martti Ahtisaari in finding a settlement for the disputed province.
Ethnic Albanians, who comprise about 90 percent of the province's population
of 2 million, insist on full independence. But Serbia, and Kosovo's Serb
minority, insist Belgrade must retain some control over the province.
The two sides have held two rounds of talks which ended without any
clear agreement, but the two sides pledged to meet again April 3 to discuss
reforms meant to give Serbs a more of a say in areas where they live.
EU officials recommended late last year that the bloc take over policing
duties in Kosovo from the United Nations, which has been administering
the province since 1999, adding the EU had a responsibility to help rebuild
the province.
March 23, 2006 5:08 AM