International Kosovo steering group holds first meeting in Vienna

Feb 28, 2008, 7:12 GMT

Vienna - The International Steering Group on Kosovo (ISG) began its formative meeting in Vienna on Thursday.

Main task of the ISG will be to monitor the plan presented by UN Kosovo negotiator Martti Ahtisaari by the authorities of the newly independent former Serbian province.

Ahtisaari envisaged the formation of the ISG in his status proposal which foresaw internationally monitored independence for Kosovo with special protection mechanisms for the Serbian minority population and Serbian cultural heritage.

The former Finnish president's plan met with strong opposition from Belgrade and was subsequently rejected by Russia in the UN Security Council.

The ISG meets at Italy's initiative and will comprise of representatives from the EU, NATO, but members of the Kosovo Contact Group - but without Contact Group member Russia which does not participate because of its opposition to Kosovo's independence.

The Contact Group, with its members Russia, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and the United States has been the most important group to deal with the issue.

Other states like Austria, Australia, Sweden, Finland, Japan or Switzerland were also invited to participate in ISG.

Dutch diplomat Pieter Feith, also the European Union's special envoy on Kosovo, chairs the ISG.