Solana spokeswoman: Kosovo dates "speculation"

Javier Solana’s spokeswoman says it is not time yet to consider a date for determining Kosovo’s future status. "These are not the days for dates," the EU high representative's spokeswoman Christina Gallach told Tanjug in Brussels, adding that a number of dates had been touted for sending a future EU police and justice mission to the province, not to mention for the independence declaration, but that for the time being they were all in the realm of "speculation." Solana spokeswoman: Kosovo dates "speculation" “However, we are making preparations for action in the field, whatever the future may hold,” she pointed out, stressing that "the key is for everyone to stay calm, and for the process to be conducted in a coordinated manner." Asked when the EU would debate the issue of the mission to Kosovo, Gallach said that the topic would be broached in the coming months, including at the upcoming meeting of the European Union Council of Ministers on February 18. Romania to oppose Kosovo independence Romanian President Traian Basescu has reiterated that his country will not recognize Kosovo independence. He said that recognizing Kosovo would send a bad message to minorities, and would represent a violation of international law. “My country will not be able to recognize an independence proclamation by Kosovo on any level…whether coordinated or unilaterally proclaimed,” Basescu told reporters in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. “What kind of message is that to send a multi-ethnic society or countries faced with ethnic problems or frozen conflicts?” the Romanian president asked. “We could be violating the UN charter and Helsinki Act” which have guaranteed 60 years of peace in Europe, he continued. He met with Scheffer to discuss the forthcoming NATO summit scheduled to be held in Bucharest in April. Meanwhile, in Helsinki, Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis has said that her country will not withdraw its opposition to Kosovo independence under any circumstances. Spain continues to maintain its reserved line towards the problem as it fears that Kosovo independence "could stir Basque and other national minority separatist tension in Spain," said Prime Minister Jose Zapatero.

Solana spokeswoman: Kosovo dates "speculation"

“However, we are making preparations for action in the field, whatever the future may hold,” she pointed out, stressing that "the key is for everyone to stay calm, and for the process to be conducted in a coordinated manner."

Asked when the EU would debate the issue of the mission to Kosovo, Gallach said that the topic would be broached in the coming months, including at the upcoming meeting of the European Union Council of Ministers on February 18.

Romania to oppose Kosovo independence

Romanian President Traian Basescu has reiterated that his country will not recognize Kosovo independence.

He said that recognizing Kosovo would send a bad message to minorities, and would represent a violation of international law.

“My country will not be able to recognize an independence proclamation by Kosovo on any level…whether coordinated or unilaterally proclaimed,” Basescu told reporters in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

“What kind of message is that to send a multi-ethnic society or countries faced with ethnic problems or frozen conflicts?” the Romanian president asked.

“We could be violating the UN charter and Helsinki Act” which have guaranteed 60 years of peace in Europe, he continued.

He met with Scheffer to discuss the forthcoming NATO summit scheduled to be held in Bucharest in April.

Meanwhile, in Helsinki, Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis has said that her country will not withdraw its opposition to Kosovo independence under any circumstances.

Spain continues to maintain its reserved line towards the problem as it fears that Kosovo independence "could stir Basque and other national minority separatist tension in Spain," said Prime Minister Jose Zapatero.