First direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina held in Vienna

NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson travelled to Vienna on 14 October to attend the first direct talks between Serbian and Kosovar authorities on the future of the province, organized by the United Nations.

The talks, chaired by the Head of the United Missions in Kosovo, Harri Holkeri, did not address the final political status of Kosovo but focused on pressing practical issues such as communications, transport links and return of refugees.
Addressing practical issues

"They are extremely important because they re going to be dealing with issues which will greatly improve, not only, we hope, relations between Belgrade and Pristina but the daily lives of Kosovars," said NATO Spokesman Jamie Shea in a video briefing for the NATO Web site.

"So we very much hope that Belgrade and Pristina will engage seriously in those talks which are fundamental to improving the political situation and creating a climate in which ultimately the final status of Kosovo could eventually be addressed," he added.

The talks were attended by representatives from Belgrade and Pristina, as well high ranking diplomats from the so-called Contact Group - the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and the Russian Federation.

European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and Chairman-in-Office Jaap de Hoop Scheffer of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also took part.