"EU, NATO will have control of Kosovo"

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer met in Brussels today. They told reporters after the meeting that the EU and NATO troops in the province "will take control of its entire territory". "EU, NATO will have control of Kosovo" Kosovo Serbs reject the EU mission to Kosovo as illegal, just as Belgrade and Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister today addressed this problem in a comment made in Belgrade. Solana and Scheffer also said that despite these pronouncements, "there is place for Serbia in the union if Serbia shows readiness for this". "Generally speaking we are not very worried that partition may occur. We must monitor the situation and analyze it, especially with UNMIK. UNMIK has the responsibility for the time being." "We are beginning the deployment, our mission, on which the EU members have reached agreement, will cover the entire territory of Kosovo. Nothing else can be said," Solana said. Scheffer added that "KFOR is responsible in Kosovo and has control over it". He also criticized what he referred to as " unhelpful Serbian rhetoric". "Serbia is a very important player in the region. I am ready to understand the frustrations in Serbia. But let's look to the future for a moment. I am open to the possibility to, as the NATO secretary general, with the allies, see how to fully utilize the fact Serbia is a Partnership for Peace member," Scheffer said. Another EU official, this time Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, spoke about Serbia as the "key to stability in the Western Balkans", and added it is "not too late for Serbia to get closer to Europe". "What's important is for Serbia to be able to show restraint with the measures it plans as an answer to Kosovo's independence declaration. I understand this is a hard period for Serbia, but right now it is important for all to try and contribute to the regional stability. We understand that the future of the Western Balkans, Kosovo and Serbia, is in the EU. We should all work to reach this goal," Rehn appealed. As for EULEX, the controversial EU mission, which according to the Brussels' interpretation is based on UN Resolution 1244, Rehn described it as a "sign of EU's readiness to take responsibility for the sake of stability and progress in the Western Balkans". Javier Solana (FoNet archive)

"EU, NATO will have control of Kosovo"

Kosovo Serbs reject the EU mission to Kosovo as illegal, just as Belgrade and Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister today addressed this problem in a comment made in Belgrade.

Solana and Scheffer also said that despite these pronouncements, "there is place for Serbia in the union if Serbia shows readiness for this".

"Generally speaking we are not very worried that partition may occur. We must monitor the situation and analyze it, especially with UNMIK. UNMIK has the responsibility for the time being."

"We are beginning the deployment, our mission, on which the EU members have reached agreement, will cover the entire territory of Kosovo. Nothing else can be said," Solana said.

Scheffer added that "KFOR is responsible in Kosovo and has control over it".

He also criticized what he referred to as " unhelpful Serbian rhetoric".

"Serbia is a very important player in the region. I am ready to understand the frustrations in Serbia. But let's look to the future for a moment. I am open to the possibility to, as the NATO secretary general, with the allies, see how to fully utilize the fact Serbia is a Partnership for Peace member," Scheffer said.

Another EU official, this time Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, spoke about Serbia as the "key to stability in the Western Balkans", and added it is "not too late for Serbia to get closer to Europe".

"What's important is for Serbia to be able to show restraint with the measures it plans as an answer to Kosovo's independence declaration. I understand this is a hard period for Serbia, but right now it is important for all to try and contribute to the regional stability. We understand that the future of the Western Balkans, Kosovo and Serbia, is in the EU. We should all work to reach this goal," Rehn appealed.

As for EULEX, the controversial EU mission, which according to the Brussels' interpretation is based on UN Resolution 1244, Rehn described it as a "sign of EU's readiness to take responsibility for the sake of stability and progress in the Western Balkans".