Deputy PM: Kosovo precondition, no "neighbor"
Suzana Grubjesic says Serbia must avoid being brought to "Kosovo or the EU" choice, as it can neither give up on its EU path, nor a portion of its territory.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Serbia has been trying for years to keep the EU and Kosovo on two parallel courses, but it is now clear that that it failed to do so, the deputy PM for EU Integration added.
"We have to deal with the EU integration process and Kosovo simultaneously," Grubjesic said in an interview for Tuesday's edition of Belgrade daily, noting that the resolution of the Kosovo-Metohija issue is the main political precondition of the EU accession.
She said that the goal is to ease relations with Priština without recognizing Kosovo's unilateral independence either directly or indirectly.
"There can be no recognition of Kosovo and no chair for the province in the UN. This is the line we cannot cross," she underlined.
"The statement about good neighboring relations is unacceptable for us as Kosovo is not our neighbor," Grubjesic said.
Grubjesic hopes that the European Commission's report on Serbia's progress will be impartial, adding that she does not expect that the report, which is to be released on October 10, will recommend a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks.
Commenting the contradictory statements of EU officials on the new precondition, Grubjesic said that we should wait for the EC report as the Commission's stance is the most important one.
