Ahtisaari Plan

The Ahtisaari Plan, formally the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement (CSP), is a status settlement proposal covering a wide range of issues related to the Kosovo status process for Kosovo.[1]

Some of the main components of the plan include the formation of the International Steering Group for Kosovo (ISG), and the International Civilian Representative for Kosovo (ICR) which is defined as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Kosovo, appointed by the Council of the European Union.[2][3]

In early 2012 President Boris Tadić recommended his five-Point Plan for Kosovo, essentially an upgrade of the Ahtisaari Plan.

On 10 September 2012, the International Steering Group had its final meeting[4][5] and formally ended its supervision,[6]

With immediate effect, the CSP no longer exists as a separate and superior legal power, and the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo now constitutes the sole basis for the country’s legal framework.

and Kosovo became responsible for its own governance.[7]

Overview

The proposal included provisions covering:

While not yet mentioning the word "independence," the draft Settlement included several provisions that were widely interpreted as implying statehood for Kosovo. For example, the draft Settlement would give Kosovo the right to apply for membership in international organizations, create a Kosovo Security Force and adopt national symbols.[8]

History

Martti Ahtisaari stated on 8 February 2007 that after a period of consultations with the parties he would finalize his Settlement proposal for submission to the UN Security Council and at that stage he would also elaborate on the status issue itself.[9]

In Belgrade, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica refused to receive Ahtisaari. Koštunica claimed that because Serbia had still not formed a new government after the January 21 parliamentary elections he had no mandate to discuss Kosovo and therefore could not meet Ahtisaari. Nevertheless, he later denounced the proposal as "illegitimate and unacceptable" because he alleged it "violates the U.N. Charter ... by undermining sovereignty of U.N. member Serbia."[10][11] President Boris Tadić did receive Ahtisaari, after which he reaffirmed his vow to never accept an independent Kosovo.[12] Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković warned that it was "necessary to avoid an imposed solution that could cause Serbia to become a factor of instability."[13]

In Pristina, Kosovo Albanian leaders issued a statement after meeting with Ahtisaari saying they are "convinced that the international process for the resolution of Kosovo's status led by President Ahtisaari will be concluded soon with Kosovo becoming an independent state."[14]

The United States called the proposal "fair and balanced,"[15] while the EU Presidency noted that Ahtisaari's proposals "build on almost twelve months of direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina."[16]

On 21 February, Ahtisaari began a period of consultations with the parties in Vienna to finalize the Settlement. He made clear that his proposal was a draft and that he would incorporate compromise solutions into the final document. After this period of consultations and further modification of the Settlement, Ahtisaari convened a high-level meeting of the parties in Vienna on March 10. After this meeting, leaders from both sides signaled a total unwillingness to compromise on their central demands (Kosovo Albanians for Kosovo's independence; Serbia for continued sovereignty over Kosovo). Concluding that there was no chance for the two sides to reconcile their positions, Ahtisaari said he intended to submit to the UN Security Council his proposed status recommendations, including an explicit recommendation for the status outcome itself, by the end of March.

In November 2008, the EU accepted the demand of Serbia not to implement the plan of Ahtisaari through EULEX.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council (PDF), United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, Annex
  2. ↑ Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, Addendum, Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement, Annex IX, International Civilian Representative (PDF), United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, article 4.1
  3. ↑ Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, Addendum, Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement (PDF), United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, article 12.1
  4. ↑ http://www.ico-kos.org/f/pdf/COMMUNIQUE16thISG-Eng.pdf
  5. ↑ "Ending of supervised independence 10 September 2012". International Civilian Office. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  6. ↑ Sputnik (10 September 2012). "International Steering Group Ends Kosovo Supervision".
  7. ↑ "Sixteenth and final meeting of the International Steering Group for Kosovo" (PDF). International Civilian Office. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "UN envoy seeks multi-ethnic, self-governing Kosovo ", Agence France-Presse (AFP), Vienna, 2 February 2007.
  9. ↑ "Ahtisaari press conference ", UNOSEK website , New York, 8 February 2007.
  10. ↑ "UN Envoy Presents Kosovo Plan, Serbia Quickly Rejects It ", by Barry Wood, Voice of America (VOA), Washington, 2 February 2007.
  11. ↑ "Ahtisaari's proposal unacceptable and illegitimate for Serbia", Government of the Republic of Serbia website, Belgrade, 7 February 2007.
  12. ↑ "U.N. envoy unveils Kosovo proposal ", by Garentina Kraja, Associated Press (AP), Pristina, 2 February 2007.
  13. ↑ "Serbian leaders warn UN plan for Kosovo could destabilize Balkans", International Herald Tribune, Belgrade, 7 February 2007.
  14. ↑ "Unity Team Press Statement," 2 February 2007.
  15. ↑ Presentation of Kosovo Status Proposal to the Parties, Sean McCormack, U.S. Department of State spokesman, Washington, DC, 2 February 2007.
  16. ↑ EU Presidency Statement on the Kosovo status proposals to be presented today by Martti Ahtisaari in Belgrade and Pristina, 2 February 2007.
  17. ↑ BalkanInsight.com (2008-11-07). "EU accepts Belgrade’s conditions for EULEX". Sofiaecho.com. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
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