Following the violence in Kosovo in March 2004, the international powers that monitored the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 - the contact group of United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States - began to abandon the question of what should be done further. The five Western states – Kuinti – concluded that expecting Kosovo to meet “standards before status” would not work. Kosovo Albanians were becoming impatient with the delay in the path to independence, the result they expected from NATO intervention. He didn't see Quint, the trial had to go on. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In November 2005, the Contact Group, in its latest consensus, established guiding principles for status resolution. At the same time, the UN Secretary-General praised former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari for leading the process to reach a status agreement. Ahtisaari faced a difficult task due to different positions on the final status of the Kosovo case; positions that reflected the opposing positions of Belgrade and Pristina. In joint sessions and other meetings he focused on trying to identify elements of a possible compromise agreement on both sides. He managed to obtain from the talks the elements for what became known as the Ahtisaari Plan. However, in 2007, it was clear that there would be no new UN Security Council resolution on Kosovo. There were substantial issues between the Quint countries and Russia, with Moscow refusing to grant independence to Kosovo as a precedent for other disputed regions. There were also factors in bilateral relations between Russia and the United States that influenced the dynamic. With Quintile's assured support, Kosovo declared independence in February 2008. The Ahtisaari Plan served as the basis for this declaration and a continued international role; which will be carried out by the International Civil Office (ICO) of the European Union Special Representative and the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX). During the events, the Ahtisaari Plan was implemented in southern Kosovo, including some municipalities with a non-Albanian majority. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay The Ahtisaari plan remains a good framework for resolving the conflict in the north and maintaining Kosovo's territorial and political integrity while the status remains disputed. It guarantees minority rights and participation in government, local self-government and connections between local municipalities (with a Serb majority) and Belgrade. Together with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's six-point plan, the Ahtisaari Plan includes a series of pragmatic measures relating to police, customs, courts and infrastructure, as well as local autonomy in education and culture, and features specials for Mitrovica (University and Hospital). The plan also includes mechanisms to ensure transparency in Belgrade's support for Kosovo Serb municipalities and in connecting northern Serbs and their local institutions to Pristina. Northern Serbs should move away from simply rejecting the Ahtisaari Plan – in relation to Kosovo's independence – and carefully re-examine how they can address their problems