Kosova’s independence through consensus

TIRANA, May 17 – Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha on Thursday went to Kosova on a three-day visit to meet with local top officials there just days before the United Nations Security Council is to discuss the Kosova independence proposal from its envoy, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari.
In his meeting with UNMIK head Joachim Ruecker, Basha repeated that his country believed Kosova’s independence would assure peace and stability in the region.
Basha appealed to the international community to fastly approve the draft resolution on Kosova’s independence saying that would “guarantee a long-term stability in Kosova and the whole region.”
Basha said they were assured that the international community would find the proper consensus on Kosova’s independence in the coming weeks. Both Basha and Ruecker stressed the importance of the continuation of the international presence even after the status in order that Kosova fulfill the standards, establish the rule of law and guarantee the respect of the minorities’ rights.
They both considered Ahtisaari’s package as “giving an end to the chapter of crisis in former Yugoslavia and opens the way for European integration in Kosova and the region.”
Basha also told Ruecker that Albania was ready to give its modest contribution together with the United States and Europe to preserve stability in Kosova.
Basha also thanked Ruecker on his “realistic presentation” of Kosova’s progress in fulfilling the required standards and for his messages for unity and maturity, self-reluctance.
Upon arrival Basha made homage to the late Kosovar President, Ibrahim Rugova.
The U.N. is likely to debate over another resolution on Kosova.
Last week Basha was in Washington to meet with U.S. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice where Kosova’s status was included in their talks.
Next month U.S. President George W. Bush will visit Albania and very likely Kosova will again be one of the topics of discussion.
Albania has made clear it has no territorial claims or supports any idea of joining with Kosova after its proposed independence. Albania has played an important diplomatic role promoting the idea that Kosova’s independence is the only solution that would bring peace and stability to the region.
That was Basha’s first visit to Kosova in the post of foreign minister which he took only last month.