NATO chief on Serbia's EU bid, Kosovo

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen was quoted as saying that "Serbia doesn't have to be a NATO member to join the EU". He told Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti in an interview that he believes further Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans, "either through partnership or membership in NATO, or in the EU, is the best guarantee of long-term stability in the Balkans". NATO chief on Serbia's EU bid, Kosovo "There are a number of EU countries that are not part of NATO and several NATO countries that are not part of the EU. Serbia should make its own decision about which of the international bodies it wants to be part of," Rasmussen was quoted by the newspaper. "I am confident not only about the security situation in the Western Balkans, but of the overall direction the region is heading toward. Although there are still a certain number of reasons for worry there, political life has obviously entered a more stable phase, while the hard nationalist rhetoric has lost much of its appeal," said the NATO secretary general. He added that the "European perspective" of the region is "also becoming tangible", and explained he saw this in the "visa liberalization progress". "And all the frightening prognoses that Kosovo's independence would have a negative influence on the security situation in the region have been proven to be baseless," believes Rasmussen. At the same time, he could not specify for who long the NATO-led KFOR would remain in Kosovo, saying that it would be "for as long as necessary, based on Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council". "We plan on having some 10,000 people deployed on the ground at the start of next year. A decision on any further scaling down will depend on political developments and security situation." NATO wishes to develop "important and ambitious" partnership with Serbia and "welcomes recent signs that Serbia wishes to take on a more active role", the daily quoted Rasmussen as saying. "The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and Partnership for Peace provide for an excellent framework and mechanism for our partnership's development and I expect that Serbia will use the possibilities at its disposal," he stated. The NATO chief went on to say that "it is important for NATO and other international organizations that Belgrade continues to implement its constructive policy regarding Kosovo". "I especially hope that Belgrade will not encourage Kosovo Serbs not to take part in the forthcoming elections. If Kosovo Serbs wish to secure that their legitimate interests and rights are being respected, then they must take part in the political process," – according to Rasmussen.

NATO chief on Serbia's EU bid, Kosovo

"There are a number of EU countries that are not part of NATO and several NATO countries that are not part of the EU. Serbia should make its own decision about which of the international bodies it wants to be part of," Rasmussen was quoted by the newspaper.

"I am confident not only about the security situation in the Western Balkans, but of the overall direction the region is heading toward. Although there are still a certain number of reasons for worry there, political life has obviously entered a more stable phase, while the hard nationalist rhetoric has lost much of its appeal," said the NATO secretary general.

He added that the "European perspective" of the region is "also becoming tangible", and explained he saw this in the "visa liberalization progress".

"And all the frightening prognoses that Kosovo's independence would have a negative influence on the security situation in the region have been proven to be baseless," believes Rasmussen.

At the same time, he could not specify for who long the NATO-led KFOR would remain in Kosovo, saying that it would be "for as long as necessary, based on Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council".

"We plan on having some 10,000 people deployed on the ground at the start of next year. A decision on any further scaling down will depend on political developments and security situation."

NATO wishes to develop "important and ambitious" partnership with Serbia and "welcomes recent signs that Serbia wishes to take on a more active role", the daily quoted Rasmussen as saying.

"The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and Partnership for Peace provide for an excellent framework and mechanism for our partnership's development and I expect that Serbia will use the possibilities at its disposal," he stated.

The NATO chief went on to say that "it is important for NATO and other international organizations that Belgrade continues to implement its constructive policy regarding Kosovo".

"I especially hope that Belgrade will not encourage Kosovo Serbs not to take part in the forthcoming elections. If Kosovo Serbs wish to secure that their legitimate interests and rights are being respected, then they must take part in the political process," – according to Rasmussen.