PACE chief: Kosovo and EU integration connected

PACE chief: Kosovo and EU integration connected

“This gives Serbia the full right to expect and demand to be respected as an equal partner by all European institutions, which primarily means that the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected with Serbia just as with other European states,” Koštunica said.

He added that Serbia could not be exempt from the rules that apply to the rest of the world, “nor can anything be offered in exchange for its territory”.

Koštunica stressed that in line with all European values, national minorities are guaranteed the rights determined by the degree of autonomy and added that in line with those values, “Serbia offered the highest degree of autonomy to the ethnic Albanian community in Kosovo”.

Koštunica warned of the dangers of “indulging separatists’ threats”, adding that “such an approach to resolving the national minority issue would have detrimental consequences not only in the region, but also worldwide”.

Van der Linden wished Serbia success in its presidency over the European Council of Ministers.

Serbia must demonstrate during its presidency that it is ready to fulfill its international obligations, Van der Linden said.

Prior to the meeting, Van der Linden told journalists the new government was facing the challenge of solving the most difficult issue, that of Kosovo’s future, to be negotiated over with the international community.

“There is a clear connection between Kosovo and European integrations,” he said, adding that the Kosovo issue had to be solved as part of the overall process of talks on Serbia’s integration with the EU.