Kosovo premier insists on independence even if it means war

Kosovo premier insists on independence even if it means war
BBC Monitoring Europe - Political - July 3, 2005, Sunday

Excerpt from report by Montenegrin Mina news agency

Podgorica, Pristina, 3 July: Independence is the only solution that Kosovo will accept under any condition, even if it is threatened by military intervention and war, Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi has said.

According to Kosumi, Kosovo final status talks will begin in two months' time and last up to a year because it is in no one's interest to prolong the process and escalate tensions in the region.

"We are convinced we will get independence, which is in the interest of all Kosovo citizens, and there is no reason why we should not believe in the independence of Kosovo," Kosumi told a group of Macedonian journalists in Pristina.

Kosumi said that it was true that the interim Kosovo authorities were not empowered to make decisions regarding border demarcation between Kosovo and Macedonia, Dan [Podgorica-based daily] reported.

"However, UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] and Serbia-Montenegro also cannot adopt such decisions. Therefore, we have to wait for the final status of Kosovo to sit down and discuss demarcation problems," Kosumi said.