Serbia sends conciliatory Kosovo message to EU

Serbia's position on Kosovo is conciliatory, announced Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in Brussels on Monday. Frattini referred to a message the EU received from an envoy of Serbian President Boris Tadic. Serbia sends conciliatory Kosovo message to EU EU Foreign Ministers were meeting on Monday to discuss the Kosovo situation in the wake of the ICJ Kosovo UDI advisory opinion. Frattini explained that the envoy told EU ministers about Serbia's position on solving the Kosovo problem. He said that the conciliatory stance was likely opening up possibilities for negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, i.e., the Kosovo Albanian officials. The Italian minister also noted that as far as a majority of EU countries and some other countries elsewhere, everything can be discussed except Kosovo's status. This was also his answer to the question about EU's plans to overcome the fact that five of its member-states did not recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo. Frattini also rejected any possibility that the ICJ advisory opinion - which said the proclamation itself was not violating international law, but would not rule on the right to secession - could be applied to other countries, including Bosnia-Herzegovina. The reason for this, he explained, is that the Kosovo case was unique. Frattini also noted that it will certainly be crucial what kind of resolution Serbia sends to the UN General Assembly in September. As for Serbia's EU ambition, Frattini said that the EU ministers discussed how to said pro-EU President Tadic a positive signal, and to tell the European Commission to produce its opinion on Serbia's readiness to become EU status candidate. Earlier in the day in Brussels, Cypriot FM Marcos Kyprianou said that "the opinion given by the ICJ is very limited and related to the specific question on the declaration of independence. At the same time, we believe that anything related to the territorial integrity of the country must be solved through talks, not with unilateral independence declarations. Our position remains unchanged - we will call on both sides to join negotiations in order to find a compromise solution, that suits both sides". Spanish Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos joined his Cypriot colleague in reiterating his country's position on Kosovo. He said that the ICJ’s decision on Kosovo would not change his country's stance on the issue and that Madrid will not recognize Kosovo. “We will not recognize Kosovo, that is our position,” Moratinos told reporters. Catherine Ashton and Miguel Angel Moratinos in Brussels today (Beta)

Serbia sends conciliatory Kosovo message to EU

EU Foreign Ministers were meeting on Monday to discuss the Kosovo situation in the wake of the ICJ Kosovo UDI advisory opinion.

Frattini explained that the envoy told EU ministers about Serbia's position on solving the Kosovo problem.

He said that the conciliatory stance was likely opening up possibilities for negotiations between Belgrade and Priština, i.e., the Kosovo Albanian officials.

The Italian minister also noted that as far as a majority of EU countries and some other countries elsewhere, everything can be discussed except Kosovo's status.

This was also his answer to the question about EU's plans to overcome the fact that five of its member-states did not recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo.

Frattini also rejected any possibility that the ICJ advisory opinion - which said the proclamation itself was not violating international law, but would not rule on the right to secession - could be applied to other countries, including Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The reason for this, he explained, is that the Kosovo case was unique.

Frattini also noted that it will certainly be crucial what kind of resolution Serbia sends to the UN General Assembly in September.

As for Serbia's EU ambition, Frattini said that the EU ministers discussed how to said pro-EU President Tadić a positive signal, and to tell the European Commission to produce its opinion on Serbia's readiness to become EU status candidate.

Earlier in the day in Brussels, Cypriot FM Marcos Kyprianou said that "the opinion given by the ICJ is very limited and related to the specific question on the declaration of independence. At the same time, we believe that anything related to the territorial integrity of the country must be solved through talks, not with unilateral independence declarations. Our position remains unchanged - we will call on both sides to join negotiations in order to find a compromise solution, that suits both sides".

Spanish Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos joined his Cypriot colleague in reiterating his country's position on Kosovo. He said that the ICJ’s decision on Kosovo would not change his country's stance on the issue and that Madrid will not recognize Kosovo.

“We will not recognize Kosovo, that is our position,” Moratinos told reporters.