EU ministers warn against unilateral moves

The EU Foreign Affairs ministers have called on Belgrade and Pristina to show “more flexibility” in order to reach a “negotiated solution”, while a majority of them clearly warned the Kosovo Albanians to refrain from unilateral moves after December 10.

(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Tuesday's fifth round of direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina, the Saturday parliamentary elections in Kosovo and the nervousness about the possible unilateral moves by Pristina made Kosovo one of the top items at Monday's GAERC meeting in Brussels.

The ministers called on the two sides to respond "positively and constructively" to the "Troika" initiatives, and "to do every possible effort to reach a negotiated solution for the status of Kosovo"

They also gave full support to the "Troika" and the EU representative Wolfgang  Ischinger, who briefed them about the status of the talks and the expectations from the upcoming rounds, as well as on how to prepare for the post-December 10 period.

The EU's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana underlined that the next GAERC falls exactly on December 10, when it will evaluate its next moves.

The Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado said the EU must find a common stance on "such an important security issue for Europe".

The ministers have expressed their "dissatisfaction" about a low turnout in the Kosovo elections and regretted the Serb boycott.

They also called on the speedy formation of a new government in Pristina.

In that context, several ministers clearly warned the winner of the elections Hashim Thaci to refrain from unilateral moves. Among them was John Murphy, the Europe minister for the UK, a country which is usually seen as a possible backer of Pristina's unilateral moves.

Murphy said "Kosovo should have its independence", but that "it should not be an uncoordinated unilateral proclamation, but one that is in coordination with the international community".

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmaier also warned about the negative consequences of unilateral moves.

"No matter how the sides react, a unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo would lead to many losers, including among those who do not see themselves yet in such a role", Steinmaier said.

"This is why a negotiated solution is best for all sides", the German Foreign Ministers added.

The Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt urged Thaci to "be responsible".

"Thaci must understand there is a difference between a politician in opposition and a responsible Prime minister", Bildt said, adding that the population of Kosovo would "not want to be independent from the international community".

The Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu asked at the meeting for the pursuit of consultations within the EU after December 10.

He said Bucharest disagrees that a smaller part of EU countries which are opposed to independence of Kosovo should align themselves with the majority.

"To the contrary, we should find the lowest common denominator among our stances", he said.

The Slovak Foreign Minister Jan Kubis - who called for a compromise solution - called on a meeting of foreign ministers of the "Regional Partnership" (Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia), which argued for a fast EU decision on sending an ESPD mission in police and rule of law to Kosovo under the UN Security Council resolution 1244.

Solana said he believed the EU would be able to find a solution for sending its ESDP mission to Kosovo, "in accordance with international law", and added that he was in discussion on this issue with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.