Feith: Less tensions and new negotiations after ICJ ruling
The ruling of International Court of Justice (ICJ) could make room for alleviation of "tensed relations" between Belgrade and Pristina, Pieter Feith stated.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, March 09, 2010
"After the ICJ gives the advisory opinion about the legality of the (Kosovo Albanian unilateral) independence declaration, I suppose and I hope that communication, contacts and over time, negotiations could start between Belgrade and Pristina," EU Special Representative in Kosovo and International Civilian Office chief Pieter Feith told Reuters.
However, he did not go into any details.
Feith said on Monday that "Pristina could not progress towards the EU without closer relations with its neighbors or a robust fight against crime".
"There is another misconception, that you can come closer to the European Union without combating and eradicating the evil of organized crime and corruption," he said.
"When I am talking about combating corruption and organized crime, in my concept this means very serious incisive steps, and includes also that personalities who are tainted, who are being investigated, should not be part of the inner circle of power."
According to a U.S. State Department report released last week, drug traffickers use Kosovo as a transit route to Europe for drugs from Afghanistan, with some police and customs officers involved in corruption.
