EU foreign ministers discuss Kosovo ahead of fifth round
The EU Foreign Ministers are calling for a “negotiated solution” and a more “flexible” attitude of Belgrade and Pristina at the Monday’s GAERC meeting in Brussels, during which they are being briefed by the EU member of the Contact Group Troika Wolfgang Ischinger.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, November 19, 2007
Ischinger met on Sunday with EU High Representative for Security and Foreign Affairs Javier Solana to prepare the GAERC, as well as to inform him about the Tuesday fifth round of direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina.
Ischinger is briefing the ministers on the negotiations process and the chances for finding a solution ahead of the fifth round, scheduled also in the EU's Brussels headquarters.
The EU ministers are repeating their "full support" to Ischinger and the Troika process.
They are also calling for a more intensified negotiations process and reaffirming their readiness to deploy an EU mission in Kosovo.
Brussels officials, however, have refused to comment on the alleged statements by Ischinger, reported from Washington, about a « status neutral » Kosovo solution.
Diplomatic sources in the EU insist it is too early to talk about any Ischinger's «proposal», let alone a Troika proposal, given that it would have to receive the consent of the US and Russian mediators.
"The talks are continuing based on the 14 points of the Contact Group and on the ideas of the two sides, with a more proactive and more engaged effort of the Troika, but there are no indications at this point of any proposals", sources said.
The Monday meeting is the last opportunity for the EU ministers to discuss Kosovo before the December 10 deadline for the Troika report to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
