Danish Defense Minister talks over Kosovo status postponed

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Source: CCTV.com | 06-19-2007 09:49

In what seems the first official acceptance of postponed talks over whether the disputed province should be granted supervised independence. Danish Defense Minister Soeren Gade asks ethnic Albanians in Kosovo to stay calm.

Gade met with NATO's commander in Kosovo, German Lieutenant General Roland Kather. After their talk, Gade called on the people of Kosovo to maintain calm and discipline as the process is taking longer than expected.

Soeren Gade, Danish defense minister, said, "It is very important that even though the status negotiations have been postponed, it is vital that there is still a good security situation in the area. And hopefully the settlement of the status for Kosovo is coming up sooner rather than later."

UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari has recommended Kosovo be granted internationally supervised independence. It's a proposal that's welcomed by its ethnic Albanian majority but rejected by its Serb minority, Serbia and Russia.

Serbia has refused to consider any solution that removes Kosovo from its borders and Russia has threatened to block the plan in the UN Security Council. But the US and EU support the UN proposal.

Recent statements by US President George W. Bush that Kosovo should gain independence have fuelled tensions with Russia. The status of the province is likely to be discussed during next month's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

So far, the UN has not set a date to vote on the UN proposal.

Editor:Du Xiaodan