EU advises Thaci against unilateral moves

EU ministers Monday urged Hashim Thaci to hold back on any unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence. Noting the December 10 deadline for ending negotiations on Kosovo's future status, the EU called on Thaci, whose party claimed victory in the weekend vote in the province, to let the talks run their course, and do nothing to jeopardize international support, AFP reported from Brussels. EU advises Thaci against unilateral moves "What Thaci must understand is that there is difference between being a politician in the opposition and being a prime minister," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said, as he arrived for a meeting with his EU counterparts. "Kosovo is de facto independent from Serbia. I don't think Kosovo wants to be independent from the international community," he told reporters. Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said he believed that Thaci, "knows what the score is and that a unilateral declaration of independence would be a very bad thing." EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana stressed Monday that any immediate independence move would be detrimental. "The Troika is negotiating. There will still be two rounds of meetings. One will be in Vienna, the other will be here and we have to wait until the 10th [of December] to see the report and see the reports of the [UN] secretary general," Solana said. The future status of Kosovo has created divisions among EU members, with some including Cyprus and Spain concerned that recognition of its unilateral independence will encourage separatists to do the same at home. The European Union Council of Ministers meets today to discuss the Kosovo situation. According to sources in Brussels, the ministers will adopt a resolution in support of a compromise solution and a flexible approach by the negotiators from Belgrade and Pristina. The ministers also support the work of the international negotiating Troika and the EU representative Wolfgang Ischinger, who will speak to the Council before tomorrow’s fifth round of negotiations. The Council will call for a speeding up of the negotiation process, taking into consideration that the deadline of December 10 is nearing. The Troika is expected to report on the negotiations to the UN Secretary General after December 10. The ministers will also discussion the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They will focus on the worsening political situation within that country and offer support to the International High Representative Miroslav Lajcak. The council will ask all sides to respect and implement Lajcak’s decisions and will stress the importance of police reforms, which is one of the main prerequisites for Bosnia to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) wit the EU.

EU advises Thaci against unilateral moves

"What Thaci must understand is that there is difference between being a politician in the opposition and being a prime minister," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said, as he arrived for a meeting with his EU counterparts.

"Kosovo is de facto independent from Serbia. I don't think Kosovo wants to be independent from the international community," he told reporters.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said he believed that Thaci, "knows what the score is and that a unilateral declaration of independence would be a very bad thing."

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana stressed Monday that any immediate independence move would be detrimental.

"The Troika is negotiating. There will still be two rounds of meetings. One will be in Vienna, the other will be here and we have to wait until the 10th [of December] to see the report and see the reports of the [UN] secretary general," Solana said.

The future status of Kosovo has created divisions among EU members, with some including Cyprus and Spain concerned that recognition of its unilateral independence will encourage separatists to do the same at home.

The European Union Council of Ministers meets today to discuss the Kosovo situation.

According to sources in Brussels, the ministers will adopt a resolution in support of a compromise solution and a flexible approach by the negotiators from Belgrade and Priština.

The ministers also support the work of the international negotiating Troika and the EU representative Wolfgang Ischinger, who will speak to the Council before tomorrow’s fifth round of negotiations.

The Council will call for a speeding up of the negotiation process, taking into consideration that the deadline of December 10 is nearing. The Troika is expected to report on the negotiations to the UN Secretary General after December 10.

The ministers will also discussion the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They will focus on the worsening political situation within that country and offer support to the International High Representative Miroslav Lajčak.

The council will ask all sides to respect and implement Lajčak’s decisions and will stress the importance of police reforms, which is one of the main prerequisites for Bosnia to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) wit the EU.