President Klaus says Kosovo solution must be accepted at local level

EU membership and regional problems topped the agenda of the two day meeting. Addressing the gathering President Klaus appealed for a solution to the Kosovo problem that could be accepted at a local level. Mr. Klaus said that while the Czech Republic supported the negotiations carried out by the UN on the future status of Kosovo, it knew from experience that a viable solution would have to be one accepted by the local population. "Political stability and economic prosperity do not come from outside." Mr. Klaus said.

The UN Security Council has to make a final decision on the status of Kosovo which is technically still a Serbian province although the territory has been under UN administration following the 1998-1999 war. The 90-percent ethnic Albanian population wants full independence from Serbia. Belgrade, backed up by Russia, opposes independence as well as a proposal by UN mediator Martti Ahtisaari for Kosovo to be given independence under international supervision.

On a different topic the Czech president said that it would be unwise to accept Moldavia in the EU before its problems with Transnistria were fully resolved. Transnistria broke away from Moldavia in 1990, but no country has recognized it. The Czech president compared Moldavia's situation to Cyprus.