EWS Fast Fact: Kosovo�s perception on Ahtisaari�s Plan

18 April 2007

The UNDP Early Warning System team launched the Early Warning Fast Facts outlining the data coming from a poll conducted last month, and asked Kosovars about their views on the Ahtisaari�s Plan.

Frode Mauring the UNDP Resident Representative speaking about the data outlined some of the results of the poll.

�Most of Kosovar Albanians are positive toward the Ahtisaari�s proposal when it is presented as a package. In fact 10 times as many are positive than negative�, he said, adding that: �On the other hand more than 80 per cent of Kosovar Serb respondents have a negative attitude toward the Ahtisaari�s proposal when presented as a package�.

However Mauring noted that: When asked about parts of Ahtisaari�s proposal the perceptions are totally different.

�When respondents were asked about the creation of new Municipalities
- part of Ahtisaari�s plan � Kosovo�s Albanians had a negative attitude as Serbs had a positive one; the same attitude was found on the issue of the creation of the protective zones around cultural monuments�.

Having this in mind Mauring said that even though Ahtisaari�s proposal is the top agenda in some parts of society economic issues stay the most important.

�Again and again when asked, all ethnic groups list poverty and unemployment as the biggest problems, not political issues�, Mauring stressed.