Report: EU mediator in Kosovo talks could step down

EU mediator in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue Robert Cooper plans to step down from this post of his early next month, Tanjug has learned.

Izvor: Tanjug

Monday, 04.06.2012.

13:03

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EU mediator in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Robert Cooper plans to step down from this post of his early next month, Tanjug has learned. The news agency is quoting its diplomatic sources in Brussels. Report: EU mediator in Kosovo talks could step down A high-ranking European diplomat who insisted on anonymity told Tanjug that Cooper planned to withdraw by July 1 to focus his efforts on Myanmar, which was in the process of democratic transition. Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said that the information was not true. “Cooper is still the mediator in the dialogue and he is focused on what remains to be done,” Kocijancic told Tanjug, without going into any further details. However, two other sources from European institutions have verified independently of each other that the information about Cooper's plans to withdraw was correct. The sources say that Cooper "could change his mind" if Catherine Ashton were to insist on him staying, but that the EU was "still waiting to see how the election of Tomislav Nikolic as Serbian president will affect the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina". There is also the fact that Cooper will turn 65 in August, an upper age limit for EU officials according to EU regulations, said the report. In exceptional cases it is allowed to an official to remain in office despite this regulation, "but it is still uncertain whether this will apply to Cooper" - Tanjug quoted its sources as saying. Robert Cooper (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Report: EU mediator in Kosovo talks could step down

A high-ranking European diplomat who insisted on anonymity told Tanjug that Cooper planned to withdraw by July 1 to focus his efforts on Myanmar, which was in the process of democratic transition.

Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said that the information was not true.

“Cooper is still the mediator in the dialogue and he is focused on what remains to be done,” Kocijancic told Tanjug, without going into any further details.

However, two other sources from European institutions have verified independently of each other that the information about Cooper's plans to withdraw was correct.

The sources say that Cooper "could change his mind" if Catherine Ashton were to insist on him staying, but that the EU was "still waiting to see how the election of Tomislav Nikolić as Serbian president will affect the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština".

There is also the fact that Cooper will turn 65 in August, an upper age limit for EU officials according to EU regulations, said the report.

In exceptional cases it is allowed to an official to remain in office despite this regulation, "but it is still uncertain whether this will apply to Cooper" - Tanjug quoted its sources as saying.

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