Contact group launches document on Kosovo

Makfax news agency, Skopje, May 26, 2005, London, 08:57

The Contact Group adopted a Document on Kosovo, which contains five guidelines that must be fulfilled in order to make a move towards beginning of talks for the final status of the province, announced late on Wednesday the Kosovo Broadcasting Company, quoting diplomatic sources.

The first guideline of the document provides for the continuation of the Contact Group engagement, including the efforts to commence the standards evaluation in mid-2005.

However, the Document says that more favorable ambiance for returning of the minority communities has to be achieved, and the local authorities' delay of the decentralization processes is criticized.

"If you fail to fulfill all seven requests, we will postpone the date set for standards evaluation", says the Contact Group's message addressed to the Pristina's authorities.

Diplomatic sources said that the Document will be handed over to the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina.

Visits to Belgrade and Pristina have been put on the next month's agenda of the Contact Group representatives. /end/