Barosso: Hague cooperation leads to SAA

Jose Manuel Barroso says full cooperation with the Hague would lead to Serbia signing the SAA by the end of this year. The president of the European Commission made the statement Wednesday in Brussels after meeting with Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. Barosso: Hague cooperation leads to SAA Barosso was joined by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn in a meeting where Kostunica reportedly made it clear that Serbia's goal is membership in the European Union. Kostunica also stressed Kosovo cannot be traded in exchange for Serbia's closer ties with the EU, Beta reported. He added that Belgrade wished to engage in direct talks with the Kosovo Albanians, but warned against possible unilateral declaration of the province's independence. "A unilateral declaration of independence," Kostunica said, "would violate international law ... and seriously endanger peace and stability, not only in the western Balkans." Kostunica said the recognition of an independent Kosovo by individual countries would also seriously damage the authority of the UN, DPA reported. "The damage would not only be to Serbia, it would be much broader. This is because Kosovo is not a unique case." "One cannot violate the UN charter in one case and not violate it in another; one cannot bypass the Security Council in one case and not bypass it in others. In this case, the largest damage would be to the UN," Kostunica said. The prime minister also dismissed recent speculation in the Kosovo-based media that the Serbian and Italian governments were looking to find ways to partition the province as "lies spread by [Pristina daily] Koha Ditore." Also Wednesday in Brussels, Kostunica met with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. “The conclusion of the Stabilization and Association (SAA) technical talks on Monday is a display of the EU’s resolve to have Serbia in it ranks,” Solana said following the meeting, adding that it also represented confirmation of Serbia’s European aspirations. “The successful conclusion of the talks is proof of Serbia’s ability to meet all conditions and do what is required to make headway on its EU journey,” he said. Solana praised the Serbian delegation’s high level of professionalism and expertise during the SAA talks, and pointed out that for the Agreement to be signed Belgrade must cooperate fully with the Hague Tribunal. Kostunica used the opportunity to underline Serbia’s dedication to European integrations. Solana and the prime minister touched on the issue of Kosovo. The EU diplomat said that the EU had invested its good will and dedication to see that the status talks end by December 10, after which the Contact Group is supposed to submit a report to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Earlier today, after a meeting with European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering, Kostunica said that Serbia itself has been threatened by "some members of the international political scene," who claim that they would recognize Kosovo if the Albanians were to proclaim independence. “Serbia is concerned about the statements related to unilateral recognition...we believe that the international community and the European Union should send a clear warning that any form of unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence violates the UN Charter, as well as stability in the region and the entire world,” Kostunica said. Commenting on Belgrade's threat of “military force” coming from Serbia's Secretary of State for Kosovo Dusan Prorokovic, as published by the New York Times last week, Kostunica said that the statement was "taken out of context and misinterpreted.” “I told Mr. Pöttering that Serbia strongly favors negotiations, and that we are looking forward to the direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina at the end of September in New York,” Kostunica said. “Since I am in Brussels, I would also like to remind that the European Union charter supports the UN and Helsinki charters regarding territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Kostunica said. “We believe that it is very easy to reach a compromise if this principle, stated in the UN charter for territorial integrity and sovereignty, is respected,” Kostunica said. He said that UN Kosovo envoy Martti Ahtisaari's Kosovo plan “fell through” because it went against these principles of the UN charter. Pöttering said that even though the outlook is dim, the next “100 days of talks” needs to be used constructively. He said that the European Parliament wants Serbia's stabilization and association with the EU to be finalized as soon as possible, but added it also wants to see Hague fugitive Ratko Mladic in custody. Vojislav Kostunica, Javier Solana in Brussels (FoNet)

Barosso: Hague cooperation leads to SAA

Barosso was joined by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn in a meeting where Koštunica reportedly made it clear that Serbia's goal is membership in the European Union.

Koštunica also stressed Kosovo cannot be traded in exchange for Serbia's closer ties with the EU, Beta reported.

He added that Belgrade wished to engage in direct talks with the Kosovo Albanians, but warned against possible unilateral declaration of the province's independence.

"A unilateral declaration of independence," Koštunica said, "would violate international law ... and seriously endanger peace and stability, not only in the western Balkans."

Koštunica said the recognition of an independent Kosovo by individual countries would also seriously damage the authority of the UN, DPA reported.

"The damage would not only be to Serbia, it would be much broader. This is because Kosovo is not a unique case."

"One cannot violate the UN charter in one case and not violate it in another; one cannot bypass the Security Council in one case and not bypass it in others. In this case, the largest damage would be to the UN," Koštunica said.

The prime minister also dismissed recent speculation in the Kosovo-based media that the Serbian and Italian governments were looking to find ways to partition the province as "lies spread by [Priština daily] Koha Ditore."

Also Wednesday in Brussels, Koštunica met with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

“The conclusion of the Stabilization and Association (SAA) technical talks on Monday is a display of the EU’s resolve to have Serbia in it ranks,” Solana said following the meeting, adding that it also represented confirmation of Serbia’s European aspirations.

“The successful conclusion of the talks is proof of Serbia’s ability to meet all conditions and do what is required to make headway on its EU journey,” he said.

Solana praised the Serbian delegation’s high level of professionalism and expertise during the SAA talks, and pointed out that for the Agreement to be signed Belgrade must cooperate fully with the Hague Tribunal.

Koštunica used the opportunity to underline Serbia’s dedication to European integrations.

Solana and the prime minister touched on the issue of Kosovo.

The EU diplomat said that the EU had invested its good will and dedication to see that the status talks end by December 10, after which the Contact Group is supposed to submit a report to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Earlier today, after a meeting with European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering, Koštunica said that Serbia itself has been threatened by "some members of the international political scene," who claim that they would recognize Kosovo if the Albanians were to proclaim independence.

“Serbia is concerned about the statements related to unilateral recognition...we believe that the international community and the European Union should send a clear warning that any form of unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence violates the UN Charter, as well as stability in the region and the entire world,” Koštunica said.

Commenting on Belgrade's threat of “military force” coming from Serbia's Secretary of State for Kosovo Dušan Proroković, as published by the New York Times last week, Koštunica said that the statement was "taken out of context and misinterpreted.”

“I told Mr. Pöttering that Serbia strongly favors negotiations, and that we are looking forward to the direct talks between Belgrade and Priština at the end of September in New York,” Koštunica said.

“Since I am in Brussels, I would also like to remind that the European Union charter supports the UN and Helsinki charters regarding territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Koštunica said.

“We believe that it is very easy to reach a compromise if this principle, stated in the UN charter for territorial integrity and sovereignty, is respected,” Koštunica said.

He said that UN Kosovo envoy Martti Ahtisaari's Kosovo plan “fell through” because it went against these principles of the UN charter.

Pöttering said that even though the outlook is dim, the next “100 days of talks” needs to be used constructively.

He said that the European Parliament wants Serbia's stabilization and association with the EU to be finalized as soon as possible, but added it also wants to see Hague fugitive Ratko Mladić in custody.