Source: Television Slovenia, Ljubljana, in Slovene 1700 gmt 24 Oct 05 [Presenter Edita M. Cetinski] Following harsh reactions [to his statement that independence was the only realistic option for Kosovo], mainly in Belgrade, but also in Kosovo and Slovenia, President Janez Drnovsek again discussed the resolution of the issue of Kosovo's status. He reiterated the reasons for his initiative: too much time has been wasted on the resolution of this issue, people there do not have a good life and it is high time we all started to behave responsibly. He also stressed that the plan put forward by him had been thoroughly deliberated.
[Reporter Polona Fijavz] President Drnovsek has established that he shook up and perhaps woke up the international stage with his proposals for solving the status of Kosovo. Today, he was even more determined in his statements. The postponement of the issue of Kosovo's status is contrary to all interests. As for the last six years - since the international community took over the administration [of Kosovo] - we cannot talk about some dazzling development, according to him. Therefore the time has come for the international community to transfer its responsibility for development to the Kosovo authorities.
[Drnovsek] Besides this, I have noticed that no-one has the guts to call a spade a spade and tackle the core of the issue, although today Kosovo is in reality already independent. Nobody talks about this as an option which we need to discuss directly.
[Reporter] Drnovsek stressed he truly believed that the proposed plan was useful and reiterated that it was imperative to guarantee the Serbian minority in Kosovo a decent life and grant it an appropriate status. The international community should withdraw after five years - only then would Kosovo be recognized internationally [as an independent state]. The EU should be put in charge of a development plan until then.
[Drnovsek] Too much time has already been wasted. There is too much standstill, people do not live well. It is high time everyone started to behave responsibly - the international community as well as the two sides [Serbia and Kosovo] - and that a solution was found.
[Reporter] On 2 November, the president will allegedly visit Pristina instead of Belgrade [the visit was cancelled by Serbia after Drnovsek announced his Kosovo proposal], but he did not want to either confirm or deny this news.
KosovoNews Note:
Drnovsek's Plan for Kosovo
Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia
Ljubljana, 20.10.2005 | press release
The President of the Republic Dr. Janez Drnovšek sent a letter today to the presidents of member states of the Contact Group for Kosovo (France, Italy, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and United States of America) and UN General Secretary Kofi Annan and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barossa. In the letter, he acquainted them with his initiative in connection with negotiations on the status of Kosovo. The plan mentions the following starting points:
1. The international community must ensure the safety of members of the Serbian minority in Kosovo.
2. The most sacred Serbian cultural, historical and religious monuments in Kosovo should be assigned extraterritorial status and must be protected by international forces.
3. Serbian municipalities in Kosovo should be given local self-government, on the basis of which they can decide themselves on local issues.
4. The Serbian minority in Kosovo should be guaranteed permanent representation in the Kosovo parliament.
5. Serbians in Kosovo should have a permanent representative in the Kosovo government, who looks after their interests.
6. In 18 months, the international community would transfer all its responsibilities and powers related to the governance of Kosovo to the Kosovo authorities. During this time, elections to the parliament, government and to the office of president would be held.
7. Kosovo would gain the status of an international legal entity, probably within the next five years, providing the international community establishes that fundamental democratic standards and peaceful cohabitation among members of the various national groups has been ensured.
8. The international forces would remain in Kosovo until that time, although it might be possible to reduce their size.
9. The European Union, in cooperation with international financial institutions, should prepare a programme for the economic development of Kosovo, as well as adequate financial instruments for its stimulation. On such a basis, Kosovo should be capable of economic survival and independence in five years.
Slovenia is willing to host an initial informal meeting of the highest political representatives of Serbia and Kosovo, at which we would try to establish an atmosphere of mutual trust and constructive communication in order to reach agreement.
President Dr. Drnovšek will tomorrow send his advisor, Ivo Vajgl, as special emissary to Belgrade, where he will acquaint the political leadership of Serbia and Montenegro with details of the plan and initiative of the Republic of Slovenia for the organisation of negotiations on the status of Kosovo. Ivo Vajgl will also visit Priština tomorrow, where he will discuss the programme with the leading politicians there.
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