EU PRESSURES SERBIA ON KOSOVO

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.02.2007 15:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a meeting between Serbian President Boris
Tadic and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, EU enlargement
commissioner Olli Rehn and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter
Steinmeier the high-level EU delegation pressed Belgrade to take part
"positively" in UN talks on the future of its breakaway province of
Kosovo and to speedily form a new government.

AFP reports that the EU troika said they wanted to encourage
authorities to engage in the final phase of efforts to grant Kosovo
a new status, almost eight years since its inter-ethnic war. "It’s
important that they (the Serbs) respond constructively, positively and
on time to the proposal," Solana said. In his part, Steinmeier noticed,
"The European Union hopes for decisiveness on the difficult issue of
Kosovo. It is now important that this agreement will create stability
in the Balkans."

Belgrade and most Serbs see Kosovo as the cradle of their nation’s
history, culture and Orthodox Christian religion. "We need a minimal
delay in order to form the parliament and take other necessary
measures," Serbian premier Vojislav Kostunica said, who renewed his
strong opposition to Kosovo’s independence. In his part President
Tadic said he told the European leaders that Kosovo’s independence
was "unacceptable" but pledged to continue the talks "fully convinced
that it is possible to change Ahtisaari’s plan."