Serbia trying to persuade France on Kosovo
Serbia is seeking a compromise that will allow Kosovo to join Balkan regional initiatives without Belgrade recognising its southern province, Serbian Foreign minister Vuk Jeremic said after meeting his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner in Belgrade. The EU also wants Belgrade to improve ties with Kosovo.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, March 02, 2010
"We want to work together with France and Europe on a solution that will enable European integration of the entire Western Balkans," he said.
Serbia applied to join the European Union last December and hopes to start membership talks this year after a delay over its failure to arrest war crimes fugitives.
The EU also wants Belgrade to improve ties with Kosovo.
"There are no conditions that would tie recognition of Kosovo's independence with Serbia's EU bid ... but we are seeking a compromise," said Kouchner, who headed the then UN mission that administered Kosovo from 1999 till 2001.
So far Serbia has refused to participate in international meetings where Kosovo's delegation was not presented as UNMIK Kosovo, the acronym for the UN mission there.
Sixty-five nations, including France, other key EU members and the United States have recognised Pristina, but Serbia, Russia, China and a majority of U.N. member states remain opposed, preventing Kosovo from joining the organisation.
Last year Serbia sought arbitration at the International Court of Justice on Kosovo's independence. A ruling is expected later this year.
