NEW YORK, March 26 (UPI) -- The only viable option for Kosovo is independence temporarily supervised by the international community, a U.N. envoy said.
"Independence is the only option for a politically stable and economically viable Kosovo," U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari said Monday in a report delivered to the Security Council by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"Only in an independent Kosovo will its democratic institutions be fully responsible and accountable for their actions. This will be crucial to ensure respect for the rule of law and the effective protection of minorities," Ahtisaari added.
The German presidency of the European Union backed Ahtisaari's plan in a statement Monday.
"The presidency of the European Union trusts that the Security Council will live up to its responsibility and hopes that it will endorse the proposal in a timely manner," the statement said.
Fourteen months of talks between Serbs and ethnic-Albanians, who represent 90 percent of the province's population, ended without any agreement and Ahtisaari submitted his own proposal. The Serb minority is opposed to Kosovo's independence.
Kosovo has been under U.N. rule since 1999, when a NATO bombing campaign drove Serb forces out. During the war, Serbian forces initiated a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Kosovo's Albanians. Hundreds of thousands of refugees fled to neighboring countries; thousands died.
Ahtisaari's plan is fully supported by Ban, who believes the proposal contains "the right elements for a fair and sustainable solution to Kosovo's future status," said his spokeswoman.
The plan gives Kosovo the right to govern itself and conclude international agreements, including membership in international bodies, under international civilian and military supervision. It also offers self-government and protection for the 100,000 remaining Serbs.
