Slovenian Minister in Belgrade

Slovenian Minister in Belgrade

Rupel will discuss increasing cooperation between Serbia and Slovenia, European Union enlargement in the region and Serbia’s situation regarding the Kosovo crisis. He will more than likely try to explain to Belgrade officials his stance on the Kosovo situation, which he recently made public after consulting with EU officials.

Rupel had said that Kosovo could be independent if Serbia was guaranteed entrance into the EU. In the opinions of many, this suggestion, which was the first that was made public and linked Kosovo independence with Serbia’s EU integration, will be not acceptable for the Kosovo Albanians, who do not wish to wait for Serbia to fulfil all of its international obligations before gaining independence. It would also not be acceptable to the Serbian side, who do not want any more solutions imposed for manners in which to justify the giving up of its territory.

Last week, during Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku’s visit to Slovenia, Rupel said that he does not want to determine the status of Kosovo ahead of time, but that the formulation of this status must include the word “independence,” even if it is only essential independence or limited, because independence is Kosovo’s reality.

Rupel continues to reiterate that Slovenia has friends on both the Serbian and Kosovar side and that he wishes for it to remain this way.