Kosovos langer Weg in die Unabhängigkeit

Summary

When international negotiations on Kosovo's future status, which had begun in 2005, broke down, UN Special Envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari and his deputy Albert Rohan negotiated the "Final comprehensive proposal for a Kosovo Status Settlement". It was completed in 2007. The so-called "Ahtisaari plan" was, with good reason, based on the principle of Kosovo's independence. At the same time it ruled out Kosovo's union with (parts of) another state. It provided for wide-ranging cultural and political rights for the Serbian community and the other minorities living in Kosovo, including the (collective) right of self-government. Belgrade and Moscow rejected the plan, and Moscow threatened to block a similar resolution by the UN Security Council. After Kosovo's declaration of independence on February 17, 2008, the USA and the majority of the EU member states finally decided to officially recognize Kosovo's independence on the basis of the Ahtisaari plan – against the will of Serbia and without a resolution by the UN Security Council.