UNMIK/PR/1694
PRISTINA – In a meeting in Berlin today with Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (SRSG) Joachim Rücker thanked Germany for its crucial contribution to finding a solution for Kosovo’s status.
“During its EU presidency in the first half of 2007, Germany helped to ensure EU support for the status process on the basis of the Ahtisaari Plan. Germany has continued to show firm resolve to move the Troika-led status process forward in order to reach a swift solution,” the SRSG said.
The SRSG briefed Mr. Steinmeier on the political situation in Kosovo and the agreements reached regarding the elections on 17 November, in particular the agreement between UNMIK and the Unity Team that the status process has absolute priority.
While expressing his sincere hope that a solution to Kosovo’s status will be found by 10 December during the Troika-led process, the SRSG asked that the international community in general and the European Union in particular must prepare for other outcomes in the context of prudent planning.
“Kosovo should not fall into a hole on 11 December,” the SRSG said. “There must be a clear perspective by then.” After his meeting with Mr. Steinmeier, the SRSG said that he is fully confident that the international community shares this view.
