Bulgaria voices support to UN Kosovo peace plan

Bulgaria voices support to UN Kosovo peace plan

POL-KOSOVO-BULGARIA-REACTION Bulgaria voices support to UN Kosovo peace plan
SOFIA, Feb 3 (KUNA) -- Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin on Saturday voiced Sofia's "full support" to the UN plan for a final settlement of the mainly ethnic-Albanian populated Serbian province of Kosovo.The plan, which was immediately denounced by the Serbian government as a recipe for independence, but well received by the Kosovo authorities, the European Union and the United States, was presented to officials in Belgrade and then Pristina by UN envoy, former president of Finland, Martti Ahtissari on Friday.Kalfin said Sofia's concern with solving the issue of the Kosovo region, which has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, emanated from the problem's link to stability in the west Balkan region."Reaching a solution for the final status of Kosovo makes it difficult to exploit the available circumstances to solve the political issue of the region to promote normalization and economic projects in the area and to prepare the Balkan countries for EU partnership", he said in statements to KUNA.The Ahtisaari plan would give the province wider authorities and self-rule, including the right to join international organizations. It gives it the right for an independent flag, national anthem and membership in international financial institutions.The Belgrade radio, in broadcasts picked up in Sarajevo, said Russia was the only country that clearly expressed reservations for the plan, requesting more negotiations until Belgrade accepted the plan.According to the radio, a meeting of Serb parliamentary parties would be held to discuss the plan and draw out the necesary tactic on the proposed negotiations, expected to be held in Vienna between the UN envoy and representatives of the Kosovo government on February 13. (end)

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