Ethnic Albanians, Serbs reach consensus on culture, religion

XINHUA (CHINA),  2006-05-24 11:59:58

 

VIENNA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The fifth round of talks on the future status of Kosovo ended here on Tuesday with consensus between the ethnic Albanian and Serbian representatives on the protection of the Serbian cultural and religious objects in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo.

 

It is the first consensus that the two sides have reached since the UN-mediated negotiations on the status of Kosovo started last November.

 

The Serbian delegation presented a catalog designating 40 Serb cultural and religious heritage sites which it wants protected.

 

The two sides reached consensus that special protection zones around the Serb heritage sites would be set up.

 

The Serbian delegates said this round of talks was successful, and the consensus between the two sides provided a common basis for the protection of Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo.

 

Although it was hoped that the two sides would work on the more political elements, so as to reach consensus on critical issues as soon as possible, the process and results of this round should have been satisfying to all involved, the UN-appointed mediator Albert Rohan told a press conference after the meeting.

 

After the Kosovo war ended in June 1999, the province became a UN protectorate under UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

 

The UN-mediated negotiations on the status of Kosovo started last November, with four previous rounds having failed to reach any formal agreement.

 

The two sides will meet again in Vienna on May 31 for their sixth round of talks, focusing on economic issues. Enditem