Spain against new conditions, backs Serbia's integrity

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, due here on Saturday, gave an interview to Belgrade's Vecernje Novosti daily ahead of his visit. Moratinos told the newspaper that his country supports Serbia's EU perspective "as real, without new conditions and demands". Spain against new conditions, backs Serbia's integrity "Only Serbia's European perspective, that is, Serbia joining the EU, can contribute to your country's definitive closure regarding the traumatic part of the recent past," he said. Spain also backs the SAA to be implemented as soon as possible, the minister added. "There is political compromise when it comes to this region's European perspective. Serbia has taken a very constructive position when it comes to the region's integration and has invested great efforts in order to fulfill its obligations towards the Hague Tribunal in light of its European and Euro-Atlantic perspective," Moratinos said. As Spain takes over the EU presidency in January 2010, the minister continued, the Western Balkans' EU perspective will deepen, with "stressed European perspective of Serbia". "Association talks with some countries will be brought to an end during our presidency. We wish to work on that with all the regional countries, but there is no doubt Serbia is the most important." Speaking about Kosovo, Moratinos reiterated his country's full support for Serbia's defense of her territorial integrity in line with valid UNSCR 1244. "Spain has always advocated the line of defense of certain principles that it cannot forego, especially respecting international law, the UN system, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states." The solution for Kosovo can be final only if there is true agreement between the two sides, and that is the position that Spain has always held, the minister said. The International Court of Justice, ICJ ruling on the legitimacy of the Kosovo Albanian declaration of independence will shed more light and mark roads to be taken to continue work on solving the problem, Moratinos was quoted as saying. Last night, Tanjug news agency reported that the Spanish foreign minister will on Saturday arrive on a three-day visit to Belgrade, where he will meet with top Serbian officials. The agency quoted a Foreign Ministry statement issued in Belgrade that said Moratinos would first meet with his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic, to then take part in an ambassadorial conference on Sunday and Monday.

Spain against new conditions, backs Serbia's integrity

"Only Serbia's European perspective, that is, Serbia joining the EU, can contribute to your country's definitive closure regarding the traumatic part of the recent past," he said.

Spain also backs the SAA to be implemented as soon as possible, the minister added.

"There is political compromise when it comes to this region's European perspective. Serbia has taken a very constructive position when it comes to the region's integration and has invested great efforts in order to fulfill its obligations towards the Hague Tribunal in light of its European and Euro-Atlantic perspective," Moratinos said.

As Spain takes over the EU presidency in January 2010, the minister continued, the Western Balkans' EU perspective will deepen, with "stressed European perspective of Serbia".

"Association talks with some countries will be brought to an end during our presidency. We wish to work on that with all the regional countries, but there is no doubt Serbia is the most important."

Speaking about Kosovo, Moratinos reiterated his country's full support for Serbia's defense of her territorial integrity in line with valid UNSCR 1244.

"Spain has always advocated the line of defense of certain principles that it cannot forego, especially respecting international law, the UN system, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states."

The solution for Kosovo can be final only if there is true agreement between the two sides, and that is the position that Spain has always held, the minister said.

The International Court of Justice, ICJ ruling on the legitimacy of the Kosovo Albanian declaration of independence will shed more light and mark roads to be taken to continue work on solving the problem, Moratinos was quoted as saying.

Last night, Tanjug news agency reported that the Spanish foreign minister will on Saturday arrive on a three-day visit to Belgrade, where he will meet with top Serbian officials.

The agency quoted a Foreign Ministry statement issued in Belgrade that said Moratinos would first meet with his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremić, to then take part in an ambassadorial conference on Sunday and Monday.