EP debates draft resolution on Kosovo

The European Parliament (EP) Committee on Foreign Relations discussed Tuesday a draft resolution on Kosovo. The draft resolution rejects the idea of Kosovo partition and proposes the implementation of Ahtisaari's plan for the north of the province. EP debates draft resolution on Kosovo “It also calls on Belgrade to eliminate parallel structures, Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek, who proposed the draft, said. Wolfgang Machreich said that the first draft of the resolution on Kosovo says that implementation of the Ahtisaari plan in northern Kosovo would give a broad autonomy to Kosovo Serbs. The draft resolution reiterates refusal of possible partition of Kosovo, as had been done already earlier in resolutions of March 29, 2007, February 5, 2009 and July 8, 2010. At the same time it notes that the independence of Kosovo is now recognized by 22 member-countries of the EU and calls on the other five members to follow suit. It also urges the Serbian government to remove parallel structures in Kosovo, and notes that Ahtisaari plan gives a broad autonomy for Serbs. If the Foreign Affairs Committee adopts the draft resolution by Lunacek, who is also EP Rapporteur for Kosovo, the document would be forwarded to the EU Council and the European Commission. Draft resolution “unacceptable” The Serbian MPs reacted to the draft resolution on Kosovo presented to the European Parliament (EP) Committee on Foreign Affairs by Lunacek in Brussels on Tuesday, and assessed it as completely unacceptable. Ruling Democratic Party-led parliamentary group whip Nada Kolundzija told the journalists at the parliament that similar initiatives had been launched before, adding that positions of certain countries regarding Kosovo were familiar. She reiterated that Serbia would not recognize the independence of Kosovo, and that it would do its best to fulfill all conditions so as to obtain the EU candidate status on December 9. Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) MP Slobodan Samardzic said that EP could not pass a binding resolution for Serbia. Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) whip Momo Colakovic stressed that the resolution was unacceptable for Serbia, because it would change relations in the field. He said that PUPS was giving full support to the Belgrade team in the dialogue with Pristina. Serb Radical Party (SRS) deputy whip Aleksandar Martinovic reiterated that the EU was working on separating Kosovo from Serbia, and that Kosovo's independence was a crucial condition for EU accession. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic believes the resolution is a message to the authorities in Belgrade for the time ahead.

EP debates draft resolution on Kosovo

“It also calls on Belgrade to eliminate parallel structures, Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek, who proposed the draft, said.

Wolfgang Machreich said that the first draft of the resolution on Kosovo says that implementation of the Ahtisaari plan in northern Kosovo would give a broad autonomy to Kosovo Serbs.

The draft resolution reiterates refusal of possible partition of Kosovo, as had been done already earlier in resolutions of March 29, 2007, February 5, 2009 and July 8, 2010.

At the same time it notes that the independence of Kosovo is now recognized by 22 member-countries of the EU and calls on the other five members to follow suit.

It also urges the Serbian government to remove parallel structures in Kosovo, and notes that Ahtisaari plan gives a broad autonomy for Serbs.

If the Foreign Affairs Committee adopts the draft resolution by Lunacek, who is also EP Rapporteur for Kosovo, the document would be forwarded to the EU Council and the European Commission.

Draft resolution “unacceptable”

The Serbian MPs reacted to the draft resolution on Kosovo presented to the European Parliament (EP) Committee on Foreign Affairs by Lunacek in Brussels on Tuesday, and assessed it as completely unacceptable.

Ruling Democratic Party-led parliamentary group whip Nada Kolundžija told the journalists at the parliament that similar initiatives had been launched before, adding that positions of certain countries regarding Kosovo were familiar.

She reiterated that Serbia would not recognize the independence of Kosovo, and that it would do its best to fulfill all conditions so as to obtain the EU candidate status on December 9.

Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) MP Slobodan Samardžić said that EP could not pass a binding resolution for Serbia.

Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) whip Momo Čolaković stressed that the resolution was unacceptable for Serbia, because it would change relations in the field.

He said that PUPS was giving full support to the Belgrade team in the dialogue with Priština.

Serb Radical Party (SRS) deputy whip Aleksandar Martinović reiterated that the EU was working on separating Kosovo from Serbia, and that Kosovo's independence was a crucial condition for EU accession.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Čedomir Jovanović believes the resolution is a message to the authorities in Belgrade for the time ahead.