Koštunica: Serbia in EU only with Kosovo

Serbia can only enter the EU with Kosovo as a constituent part, says Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. “Our position is that Serbia’s territorial integrity is of the utmost importance,” Kostunica told English-language TV station Russia Today, when asked if Serbia, given her adherence to territorial integrity and the position of the majority of EU member-states, would ever join the EU. Kostunica: Serbia in EU only with Kosovo “Kosovo is not merely a question of Serbia’s wholeness and her territorial integrity. It’s a very important part of Serbia that’s tied to Serbian identity, and maybe the best proof of this is that Serbs, wherever they live—in Montenegro, the Republic of Srpska, around the world—our diaspora has reacted to the fragmentation of Serbia and the unilateral declaration of independence,“ said the prime minister. Stressing that Serbia had made its intention to join the EU clear many years ago, had overcome several hurdles and had taken very serious steps, he said that when it came to “any kind of further talks on EU membership, we must clearly state what Serbian territory it is that the EU recognizes.“ “For us, that is only Serbia with Kosovo as a constituent part,“ Kostunica underlined. The prime minister said that two obstacles stood in the way of talks with Brussels. “Firstly, what Serbia is. For us, Serbia includes Kosovo, it’s in our Constitution. Then, we have another problem with the EU, which is the civic mission that it is determined to send to Kosovo, which also violates our territorial integrity and Serbia’s sovereignty, as many EU member-states have already recognized Kosovo’s independence,” he explained, adding that for him this was “a matter of principle.” Asked whether there was a chance of Serbia holding on to “at least the northern part” of the province, Kostunica replied that his position was principled as it meant that “Serbia is not only defending Kosovo, but the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty.” The prime minister said that ambassadors recalled from countries that had recognized Kosovo would remain in consultations “for a certain period” as it was necessary to see “how things will unfold.” Vojislav Kostunica (FoNet archive)

Koštunica: Serbia in EU only with Kosovo

“Kosovo is not merely a question of Serbia’s wholeness and her territorial integrity. It’s a very important part of Serbia that’s tied to Serbian identity, and maybe the best proof of this is that Serbs, wherever they live—in Montenegro, the Republic of Srpska, around the world—our diaspora has reacted to the fragmentation of Serbia and the unilateral declaration of independence,“ said the prime minister.

Stressing that Serbia had made its intention to join the EU clear many years ago, had overcome several hurdles and had taken very serious steps, he said that when it came to “any kind of further talks on EU membership, we must clearly state what Serbian territory it is that the EU recognizes.“

“For us, that is only Serbia with Kosovo as a constituent part,“ Koštunica underlined.

The prime minister said that two obstacles stood in the way of talks with Brussels.

“Firstly, what Serbia is. For us, Serbia includes Kosovo, it’s in our Constitution. Then, we have another problem with the EU, which is the civic mission that it is determined to send to Kosovo, which also violates our territorial integrity and Serbia’s sovereignty, as many EU member-states have already recognized Kosovo’s independence,” he explained, adding that for him this was “a matter of principle.”

Asked whether there was a chance of Serbia holding on to “at least the northern part” of the province, Koštunica replied that his position was principled as it meant that “Serbia is not only defending Kosovo, but the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

The prime minister said that ambassadors recalled from countries that had recognized Kosovo would remain in consultations “for a certain period” as it was necessary to see “how things will unfold.”