Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the UN proposal for Kosovo and on its implications for other separatist movements in eastern Europe. [4337/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, visited Belgrade and Pristina on 2 February to present his Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo status settlement. President Ahtisaari has indicated his intention to hold further consultations with the two parties on the Proposal during the coming weeks. My understanding is that he plans to deliver his final proposal to the UN Security Council in March, at which time he will pronounce on the status issue itself. The declared aim of the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement is to define the provisions necessary for a future Kosovo that is viable, sustainable and stable. It includes detailed provisions concerning the promotion and protection of the rights of communities and their members, the effective decentralisation of government, and the preservation and protection of cultural and religious heritage. It also sets out constitutional, economic and security measures, aimed at contributing to the development of a multiethnic, democratic and prosperous Kosovo. A key element of the proposed Settlement is the mandate provided for a future international civilian and military presence in Kosovo, to supervise implementation of the Settlement and assist the competent Kosovo authorities in ensuring peace and stability throughout Kosovo.

Together with our EU partners, Ireland has consistently expressed strong support for the efforts of President Ahtisaari and his team since they commenced work on this most challenging and complex issue twelve months ago. While the precise details of President Ahtisaari's final proposal will not be known until after the period of consultations with the parties, I welcome the current proposal as reflecting our view that the future status of Kosovo must be based on multi-ethnicity, democracy, the rule of law and full respect for human rights, with effective guarantees to ensure the protection of minorities. I look forward to discussing these issues further with my EU Foreign Minister colleagues at the next meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 12 February, when we expect to receive a briefing from President Ahtisaari. With regard to the question of implications for separatist movements in Eastern Europe, I am aware that Russia has advocated the need for "universal principles" to settle conflicts in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, and has argued that the outcome in Kosovo will have implications for these conflicts. With regard to the question of implications for separatist movements in Eastern Europe, I am aware that Russia has advocated the need for "universal principles" to settle conflicts in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, and has argued that the outcome in Kosovo will have implications for these conflicts. For its part however, the European Union does not agree that the issues are in any way related and believes that each conflict situation has its own particular characteristics.