Bosnia's top international offical says Kosovo's status not linked to Bosnia

Associated Press, Jun 28, 2005 6:20 AM

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina-Bosnia's top international official on Tuesday called a suggestion by Serbia-Montenegro's foreign minister to link the settling of Kosovo's status with Bosnia "damaging, destabilizing and completely unacceptable."

"The Kosovo question is a matter solely for the international community and the Government of Serbia and Montenegro, and has no connection with Bosnia and Herzegovina," British diplomat Paddy Ashdown said in a statement.

Ashdown added that "Bosnia-Herzegovina is a sovereign state, a member of the United Nations whose borders are internationally recognized, and guaranteed by treaty and by law. These borders are not a matter for negotiation and Serbia has an obligation to uphold them."

The peace agreement that ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war left the country divided into a Bosnian Serb mini-state, called Republika Srpska and a Bosniak-Croat Federation. Each have their own government, police and army and are linked only by joint state institutions.

Politicians from Serbia-Montenegro have in the past frequently linked the solution for the Kosovo province, which seeks independence from Serbia, with the Bosnian Serb ministate and its status within Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Serbian Foreign Minister, Vuk Draskovic, over the weekend repeated that the two should be linked, but Ashdown said "the days when Belgrade brings into question Bosnia and Herzegovina's borders are long gone and will never be allowed return."

He also said "these kinds of comments damage Serbia and Montenegro's ability to be regarded as a stable influence in the region and a country on its way to Europe."