"Recognize Kosovo, then join EU"

EP rapporteur for Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek says Serbia "must recognize Kosovo" before it eventually joins the EU. "Serbia must recognize Kosovo. I hope this will happen soon, which would make the situation easier both for Kosovo and the EU," the Austrian politician told Radio Deutsche Welle. "Recognize Kosovo, then join EU" Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence three years ago. Belgrade rejected the proclamation as illegal, while 5 out of 27 EU member states have not recognized it. Lunacek went on to warn that "no country that does not recognize another country" will in the future be allowed to join the EU, because this organization "learned its lesson after Cyprus". "Serbia is hopeful of receiving candidate status on December of this year. This remains to be seen, because Serbia must also fulfill some other conditions, such as full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal," said Lunacek. Everyone at the European Parliament, she continued, criticized Serbia for the fact that Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic had not been arrested. "It is not enough to simply say, 'we're working on it', they must be arrested before next steps toward integration had been made," said she. The rapporteur also stated that she supported calls for a "clean hands" government to be formed in Pristina. "That means it must not include people being investigated on suspicion of crime and corruption." Lunacek also commented on the Kosovo organ trafficking report submitted by CoE investigator and Swiss senator Dick Marty, to say that she believed Marty and his associates "should give evidence to EULEX".

"Recognize Kosovo, then join EU"

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence three years ago. Belgrade rejected the proclamation as illegal, while 5 out of 27 EU member states have not recognized it.

Lunacek went on to warn that "no country that does not recognize another country" will in the future be allowed to join the EU, because this organization "learned its lesson after Cyprus".

"Serbia is hopeful of receiving candidate status on December of this year. This remains to be seen, because Serbia must also fulfill some other conditions, such as full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal," said Lunacek.

Everyone at the European Parliament, she continued, criticized Serbia for the fact that Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić had not been arrested.

"It is not enough to simply say, 'we're working on it', they must be arrested before next steps toward integration had been made," said she.

The rapporteur also stated that she supported calls for a "clean hands" government to be formed in Priština.

"That means it must not include people being investigated on suspicion of crime and corruption."

Lunacek also commented on the Kosovo organ trafficking report submitted by CoE investigator and Swiss senator Dick Marty, to say that she believed Marty and his associates "should give evidence to EULEX".