Kouchner: Serbia belongs in Europe
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says that he is disappointed that Serbia has not progressed on its path towards the EU during France’s presidency.
Tuesday, 23.12.2008.
12:36
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says that he is disappointed that Serbia has not progressed on its path towards the EU during France’s presidency. “Serbia’s place is in Europe, as a member of the EU, we’ve persistently repeated that during our presidency. But, Serbia’s accession to the EU is now mostly in Serbia’s hands. We are disappointed that no progress has been made during our presidency,” he told daily Vecernje Novosti. Kouchner: Serbia belongs in Europe Kouchner said that the conditions for the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) coming into effect are well known, and that France would do all it could to convince all the EU member states to support the unfreezing of the agreement. “I am convinced that the next phase will be achieved. But that depends on the government in Belgrade. I am confident that the current team and their pro-European approach will accomplish all the necessary tasks, especially completing cooperation with the Hague Tribunal,” Kouchner said. Asked whether recognition of Kosovo would be a condition for Serbia’s entrance into the EU, he said that the conditions for EU entrance were the same for every country. “Belgrade and Pristina need to reach an agreement, which is also in the best interests of both countries and the entire region. As far as we are concerned, we will make every effort to see results. We must continue to move forward with the European perspective and work on peace and reconciliation. It is in the interests of Serbia and all her neighbors to move forward,” Kouchner said. He said that it was important for both Belgrade and Pristina to accept the deployment of the EULEX mission in Kosovo. “That is vital for the deployment of the European mission throughout Kosovo. The Kosovo government has never opposed the deployment of EULEX, despite their reservations over the six-point plan. The EULEX mission was deployed on December 9, and is already working in the best interests of the people of Kosovo,” he stressed. The French foreign minister reiterated that 53 countries had recognized Kosovo’s independence thus far, including 22 of the 27 EU member-states. “Countries can live and be recognized by others without participating in all existing international institutions. I am convinced that a solution will be found for the EU. During our presidency, we confirmed the European future of all the Balkan countries, Kosovo included,” Kouchner said. Bernard Kouchner (FoNet, archive)
Kouchner: Serbia belongs in Europe
Kouchner said that the conditions for the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) coming into effect are well known, and that France would do all it could to convince all the EU member states to support the unfreezing of the agreement.“I am convinced that the next phase will be achieved. But that depends on the government in Belgrade. I am confident that the current team and their pro-European approach will accomplish all the necessary tasks, especially completing cooperation with the Hague Tribunal,” Kouchner said.
Asked whether recognition of Kosovo would be a condition for Serbia’s entrance into the EU, he said that the conditions for EU entrance were the same for every country.
“Belgrade and Priština need to reach an agreement, which is also in the best interests of both countries and the entire region. As far as we are concerned, we will make every effort to see results. We must continue to move forward with the European perspective and work on peace and reconciliation. It is in the interests of Serbia and all her neighbors to move forward,” Kouchner said.
He said that it was important for both Belgrade and Priština to accept the deployment of the EULEX mission in Kosovo.
“That is vital for the deployment of the European mission throughout Kosovo. The Kosovo government has never opposed the deployment of EULEX, despite their reservations over the six-point plan. The EULEX mission was deployed on December 9, and is already working in the best interests of the people of Kosovo,” he stressed.
The French foreign minister reiterated that 53 countries had recognized Kosovo’s independence thus far, including 22 of the 27 EU member-states.
“Countries can live and be recognized by others without participating in all existing international institutions. I am convinced that a solution will be found for the EU. During our presidency, we confirmed the European future of all the Balkan countries, Kosovo included,” Kouchner said.
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