Russia-EU Compromise on Kosovo Status, No New NATO Members May Be In the Works

May 28, 2007 (LPAC)-- EIR's bureau in Zagreb, Croatia, reports a possible compromise over supporting the status of Kosovo--the heavily Albanian-populated region which has been part of Serbia for five decades--may have been worked out between Russia and NATO powers. The most influential Croatian daily, Jutarnji List , writes today that "according to some semi-official information from Moscow" the compromise on future status of Kosovo has been agreed upon between Russia, the European Union, and the United States.

According to sources of Jutarnji List close to Russian political leadership, Russia has agreed not to veto the "Ahtisari Plan" which supports "supervised independence" of Kosovo, in the UN Security Council.

In return, the EU and United States would accept a two year moratorium on Kosovo UN membership. Russian troops would be stationed once again in Kosovo in order to defend Serb enclaves in the province. Russian troops were stationed in Kosovo previously as part of Kosovo peace keeping forces (KFOR) but withdrew afterwards.

Also as a sign of good will towards Russia, NATO would not, during the next NATO summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest, invite Georgia and Ukraine to join its membership. Jutarnji List says that not inviting Ukraine and Georgia would be clearly against the wishes of "certain circles in NATO."