EU leaders last night set in train a major diplomatic initiative on Kosovo. The EU is to reintegrate the UN into a framework for a political settlement, but insisted that this would complement the continuing military offensive against Serbia.
A motion will now be tabled at the UN Security Council by the EU setting out the principles required by the international community to underpin any settlement. And leaders said the EU would be willing if asked to administer the province on the UN's behalf under any interim peace deal, pending elections.
The hope is that a new initiative through the UN will make it possible for the Russians to back the establishment of a multinational peace-enforcing force mandated by the UN, but under NATO operational control. The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, made clear that any such initiative should not be seen as undermining in any way the determination of the NATO allies to fulfil in full their objective of the safe, protected return of refugees and a democratic political settlement in the province.
"The conditions that we have laid down are the minimum conditions consistent with upholding the values of civilisation against the barbarity that has happened in Kosovo," he said.
The Taoiseach welcomed the re-involvement of the UN in attempts to reach a settlement and the attendance of its Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, at the meeting.
But he insisted that Ireland strongly backs the continuation of bombing. "These things have to happen," he said of the safe return of refugees and the withdrawal of Serb forces, "and if they do the bombing can stop."
He defended Ireland's support for the NATO action as an essential response to a humanitarian catastrophe.
Mr Annan said that if it was possible for them to achieve anything through diplomatic means it would be better for everyone, but he insisted that he had no plans at present to go to Belgrade.
Other leaders at the special EU summit here last night also gave strong support to attempts to reintegrate the UN and the Russians into any framework for a settlement and a determination that any force sent into Kosovo to keep a peace agreement will be mandated by the UN.
They did not go into a detailed debate, however, of plans set out earlier by the German Presidency for a short ceasefire followed by the withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo. A British spokesman said it was too early to discuss the "modalities of an endgame".
There was also strong support earlier at the meeting of Socialist leaders, where the need to pursue a twin-track approach was discussed.
Bringing the UN and the Russians into the process was seen as critical to both the success and the legitimisation of the NATO campaign, the leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said.
Asked if he had resolved his differences with his party president, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, Mr Quinn said they were at one in believing that the way forward lay in re-involving the UN and the Russians in the process. Austrian President Viktor Klima said it was important not to send any sign of weakness to President Milosevic but there was also a need to work on ways to reassure small countries that in future their sovereignty could not be overturned simply by force.
The Socialists have set up a working group on national sovereignty, human rights and international law. It is also expected to discuss the issue of UN reform which Mr Quinn said was crucial to deal with the deadlock created by the blocking vetoes of Russia and China in the Security Council.
Mr Francois Hollande, first secretary of the French Socialist Party, said there was a need to pursue the NATO conditions for a settlement but also to convene a peace conference as soon as possible which could also be a forum for economic assistance.
The Dutch Prime Minister, Mr Wim Kok, welcoming the initiative to bring the UN back to centre stage, asked why stronger economic sanctions were not being applied to Serbia.
The Portuguese Prime Minister, Mr Antonio Guttieres, urged the continued application of military and diplomatic pressure but also told his fellow socialists of the unease domestically over the willingness of the international community to take action over Kosovo while ignoring the plight of East Timor.