Rupel: EU is key player in Kosovo

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel says that the EU has no desire to offend Serbia or Russia. In an interview with Austrian daily Wiener Zeitung, Rupel says that as far as the Kosovo question is concerned, the EU must above all remain united, and that it is the main player in issues relating to Kosovo, Serbia and the west Balkans, which are all within its jurisdiction. Rupel: EU is key player in Kosovo “Obviously the Serb and Kosovo Albanian sides have different expectations. I doubt much will change there. The real question is how the EU is going to play its role,” said the minister, adding that the EU was united on the subject, or at least, almost united. “We have promised them that they will one day join the EU. Like our American friends, our Russian friends have interests too. But, no-one is more affected than the EU. That’s why we must look after our interests, before anyone else’s." "Moreover, if we’re to be taken seriously, we have to be united,” he said, adding that while the mediating Troika were now discussing the Kosovo matter, ultimately the issue would come down to relations between the western powers and Russia. “That will be a tightrope. Clearly Russia has to be present. Moscow has to understand that the EU has taken the initiative in the Kosovo process. At the end of the day, a sizeable civil mission has already been prepared to replace the UN contingent,” said Rupel, and went on to say that the EU had no wish to offend the Serbs or the Russians, and that Russia was an important EU neighbor, both as an energy supplier and strategic partner. “That’s why EU members don’t want to start a ‘war’ with Russia,” he said. Responding to a question on whether it was possible to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia before Hague fugitive Ratko Mladic was handed over and the Kosovo issue settled, the minister said he did not see any contradictions in those plans. “The government is capable of catching Mladic. There are some technical problems, which can be taken care of this year. And I hope we’ll resolve the Kosovo question as soon as we assume the EU presidency, in the first few months of next year,” he predicted. On the subject of Slovenia’s plans for the EU presidency, Rupel says that talks with the Hague will make good progress, without any problems, and that one of the goals is to initiate talks with Macedonia, not to mention signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia. As things stand, it is clear that Slovenia sees, as its main tasks during her EU presidency, the signing of the said agreement with Serbia, and the Kosovo question. Slovenia is going to great lengths in preparation for her assumption of the presidency on January 1, 2008 – at the same time, Serbia still has no ambassador in Slovenia.

Rupel: EU is key player in Kosovo

“Obviously the Serb and Kosovo Albanian sides have different expectations. I doubt much will change there. The real question is how the EU is going to play its role,” said the minister, adding that the EU was united on the subject, or at least, almost united.

“We have promised them that they will one day join the EU. Like our American friends, our Russian friends have interests too. But, no-one is more affected than the EU. That’s why we must look after our interests, before anyone else’s."

"Moreover, if we’re to be taken seriously, we have to be united,” he said, adding that while the mediating Troika were now discussing the Kosovo matter, ultimately the issue would come down to relations between the western powers and Russia.

“That will be a tightrope. Clearly Russia has to be present. Moscow has to understand that the EU has taken the initiative in the Kosovo process. At the end of the day, a sizeable civil mission has already been prepared to replace the UN contingent,” said Rupel, and went on to say that the EU had no wish to offend the Serbs or the Russians, and that Russia was an important EU neighbor, both as an energy supplier and strategic partner.

“That’s why EU members don’t want to start a ‘war’ with Russia,” he said.

Responding to a question on whether it was possible to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia before Hague fugitive Ratko Mladić was handed over and the Kosovo issue settled, the minister said he did not see any contradictions in those plans.

“The government is capable of catching Mladić. There are some technical problems, which can be taken care of this year. And I hope we’ll resolve the Kosovo question as soon as we assume the EU presidency, in the first few months of next year,” he predicted.

On the subject of Slovenia’s plans for the EU presidency, Rupel says that talks with the Hague will make good progress, without any problems, and that one of the goals is to initiate talks with Macedonia, not to mention signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia.

As things stand, it is clear that Slovenia sees, as its main tasks during her EU presidency, the signing of the said agreement with Serbia, and the Kosovo question.

Slovenia is going to great lengths in preparation for her assumption of the presidency on January 1, 2008 – at the same time, Serbia still has no ambassador in Slovenia.