Rupel: Kosovo unique case

The EU will try to convince Russia that Kosovo is a unique case, says Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. Rupel said that the EU would try to explain to Russia next week that Kosovo’s status would not have any effect on the status of former Soviet republics. Rupel: Kosovo unique case “I’ve said many times that you cannot compare the situation in Kosovo with anywhere else,” the minister told the Reuters news agency. He will be meeting on Wednesday with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. European Foreign Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero Waldner will also participate in the talks, which will focus on Kosovo independence, something Russia strongly opposes. Moscow is also against the dispatch of an 1800-strong EU mission to Kosovo to replace the current UN administration in the province. Rupel said that the sending of the EU mission would most probably be approved at the next meeting of the EU Council of Ministers, scheduled for February 18. The minister said that he did not have any information as to when Kosovo intended to declare independence. “Our friends in Russia have said many times what they do not like in the debate over the Security Council resolution. We are trying to convince them that they may not be right. At the next meeting, we will try to put our views across to our Russian friends,” Rupel said, adding that he hoped that a consensus would be reached on “at least some matters.” Dimitrij Rupel (eu.2008.si)

Rupel: Kosovo unique case

“I’ve said many times that you cannot compare the situation in Kosovo with anywhere else,” the minister told the Reuters news agency.

He will be meeting on Wednesday with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. European Foreign Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero Waldner will also participate in the talks, which will focus on Kosovo independence, something Russia strongly opposes.

Moscow is also against the dispatch of an 1800-strong EU mission to Kosovo to replace the current UN administration in the province.

Rupel said that the sending of the EU mission would most probably be approved at the next meeting of the EU Council of Ministers, scheduled for February 18.

The minister said that he did not have any information as to when Kosovo intended to declare independence.

“Our friends in Russia have said many times what they do not like in the debate over the Security Council resolution. We are trying to convince them that they may not be right. At the next meeting, we will try to put our views across to our Russian friends,” Rupel said, adding that he hoped that a consensus would be reached on “at least some matters.”