EU opposes unilateral Kosovo moves

EU opposes unilateral Kosovo moves

Nagy also reminded reporters at a regular news conference in Brussels Monday that Rehn said it was of “essential importance” for progress over the issue to occur in the UN, as well as that the UN Security Council member states must take responsibility for solving the Kosovo status crisis and creating a multilateral framework that will provide the region with a sustainable solution.  

Nagy quoted Rehn in answer to a question on whether Kosovo’s Prime Minister Agim Ceku can expect EU support for his statement about the unilateral declaration of independence.

“Olli Rehn called on all sides not to reach for unilateral measures, be it through statements or the use of veto,” Nagy added.

Beta reported earlier that it learned from its sources in Brussels Sunday that the EU also believes the Kosovo status issue should be addressed by the UN Security Council, as a unilateral declaration of independence or partitioning of the province would be dangerous.

The agency’s sources went on to say that the debate over the latest draft resolution that will take place next week will be crucial and, together with strong pressure on Serbia and Russia, will show whether a way out of the impasse is on the horizon.

At present, the EU would like to avoid a unilateral declaration of independence, something the sources termed "a dangerous option."

According to what Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku told EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Brussels last week, Kosovo's Albanians will abstain from doing so until the end of the year, hoping for a solution in the Security Council.

Asked to comment on rumors that Kosovo could be split between Serbia and the Kosovo Albanians, the diplomats replied that the EU is against doing so for a variety of reasons, first and foremost due to the danger of further Balkanizing the Balkans.

They also ruled out that a split could bring a federation of Albania and one part of the province, while the other would be merged with Serbia.

This has been touted as a solution that would avoid the creation of new small states, while also giving Kosovo a better chance of economic survival and preserving its European outlook.