"Serbia, Kosovo can only be reunified within EU"

Dimitrij Rupel says that Serbia and Kosovo can be together again only in the context of the EU. The Slovenian foreign minister views the Kosovo talks as Serbia’s attempt to reunify with the province, which is only possible if the two countries join the EU. "Serbia, Kosovo can only be reunified within EU" Rupel told German daily Frankfurter Algemaine that he regarded the talks as negotiations over 20 percent of Kosovo's territory, as even during Yugoslav times, the province had 80 percent of the same rights as a republic. For this reason, Rupel still views the Ahtosaari plan as the best solution so far. The minister also believes that it would be in Serbia’s interests to take advantage of what time is left and improve the plan, in order to receive firmer guarantees for the enclaves and for cultural landmarks in Kosovo. Meanwhile, Rupel does not rule out other solutions put forward during the talks, such as the German model of the 1970s, though he feels that the Ahtisaari plan allows little room for alteration, as it is precisely set out and contains a wealth of good ideas. “If I understand correctly, Serbia wants to reunify with Kosovo. That is only possible in an EU context. Now we require a temporary solution that will hold until both Serbia and Kosovo are integrated within the Union,“ says Rupel, adding that he considers the Kosovo crisis a primarily European issue, as opposed to American or Russian, and that the EU must not let anyone outwith Europe decide on the matter. The Slovenian foreign minister says that a unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence would not be in the province’s interests, as it would prompt a reaction contrary to the one desired. He feels that it is time to resolve the Kosovo situation and that Slovenia, who will soon assume the EU presidency, would not be concerned if this failed to take place during their mandate, but that the decision should not be postponed much longer, as otherwise it could lead to destabilization within the region. He adds that he sympathizes with Serbia’s position, and that the EU does not want the present Serbian government to be replaced, as it has to continue to working towards a better European future. Rupel stresses that the spotlight should not purely be on Kosovo, but rather on Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Macedonia, adding that Serbia is the key to Balkan stability, which is the very reason Slovenia supports Serbian EU membership. He goes on to say that Slovenia will not be able to achieve anything without the help of others. Slovenia assumes the EU presidency on January 1, yet Serbia is still without an ambassador in that country.

"Serbia, Kosovo can only be reunified within EU"

Rupel told German daily Frankfurter Algemaine that he regarded the talks as negotiations over 20 percent of Kosovo's territory, as even during Yugoslav times, the province had 80 percent of the same rights as a republic. For this reason, Rupel still views the Ahtosaari plan as the best solution so far.

The minister also believes that it would be in Serbia’s interests to take advantage of what time is left and improve the plan, in order to receive firmer guarantees for the enclaves and for cultural landmarks in Kosovo. Meanwhile, Rupel does not rule out other solutions put forward during the talks, such as the German model of the 1970s, though he feels that the Ahtisaari plan allows little room for alteration, as it is precisely set out and contains a wealth of good ideas.

“If I understand correctly, Serbia wants to reunify with Kosovo. That is only possible in an EU context. Now we require a temporary solution that will hold until both Serbia and Kosovo are integrated within the Union,“ says Rupel, adding that he considers the Kosovo crisis a primarily European issue, as opposed to American or Russian, and that the EU must not let anyone outwith Europe decide on the matter.

The Slovenian foreign minister says that a unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence would not be in the province’s interests, as it would prompt a reaction contrary to the one desired. He feels that it is time to resolve the Kosovo situation and that Slovenia, who will soon assume the EU presidency, would not be concerned if this failed to take place during their mandate, but that the decision should not be postponed much longer, as otherwise it could lead to destabilization within the region.

He adds that he sympathizes with Serbia’s position, and that the EU does not want the present Serbian government to be replaced, as it has to continue to working towards a better European future.

Rupel stresses that the spotlight should not purely be on Kosovo, but rather on Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Macedonia, adding that Serbia is the key to Balkan stability, which is the very reason Slovenia supports Serbian EU membership. He goes on to say that Slovenia will not be able to achieve anything without the help of others.

Slovenia assumes the EU presidency on January 1, yet Serbia is still without an ambassador in that country.