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State's Burns Meets with Kosovo Leader To Discuss Status Talks

14 January 2006

More peace and security need in region, under secretary says

Under Secretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns recently met with Hashim Thaci, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo, to discuss the situation in that country, the Department of State confirmed January 13 in response to a question taken at a briefing earlier that day.

During the January 13 meeting, Burns and Thaci discussed the Kosovo status talks and U.S. support for the work by U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari. Burns also encouraged Kosovo authorities to do more to protect minority rights, according to the State Department.

“Under Secretary Burns and other U.S. officials remain in close touch with authorities in Pristina, Belgrade and throughout the region as part of [the U.S. government’s] continued work for peace and security throughout the Balkans,” said department spokesman Sean McCormack.

The Kosovo province of Serbia-Montenegro has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO drove out Yugoslav Serb forces in the wake of human-rights abuses. About 1,700 U.S. troops remain in Kosovo to help protect Serbian communities who are targets of ethnic violence. (See related article.)

For additional information on U.S. policy in the region, see Balkans.

Following is the State Department response to the taken question:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 13, 2006
2006/45

QUESTION TAKEN AT THE JANUARY 13, 2006 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

Kosovo-Albanian Hashim Thaci Meeting with Under Secretary R. Nicholas Burns

Question:   With whom did Hashim Thaci, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), meet while at the State Department?

Answer:  Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns met with Mr. Thaci on Friday, January 13, to discuss the situation in Kosovo, including the Kosovo status talks. 

During the meeting, Under Secretary Burns reiterated United States support for U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari’s efforts and encouraged authorities in Kosovo to do more to protect minority rights and devolve local government.

Under Secretary Burns and other U.S. officials remain in close touch with authorities in Pristina, Belgrade and throughout the region as part of our continued work for peace and security throughout the Balkans.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)