Analyst: EU offer fine, timing dreadful

Two Serbia-related moves the EU made on Monday were an example of "dreadful timing", Ivo Viskovic says. When one day after President Boris Tadic's re-election Brussels decided to adopt plans to send its, as far as Belgrade is concerned, highly controversial mission to Kosovo, at the same time also sending the text of a proposed political agreement, it set off a chain in events that might end with the collapse of the government in Belgrade, and fresh parliamentary elections. Analyst: EU offer fine, timing dreadful Now Viskovic, a political analyst and professor of international law at the University of Belgrade, assessed that Serbia should sign the interim agreement with the European Union and thereby show good will, "just as the EU showed good will by offering the document." "I read carefully the proposed accord and absolutely found no link between it and Kosovo," Viskovic said. This is also the position adopted by President Boris Tadic, but Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica vehemently opposes the signing, saying it would mean Serbia has given up on its southern province. In an interview for the state television yesterday, Viskovic explained that the agreement could be signed, while a "special statement by the Serbian side could make it perfectly clear that the text is unrelated to the territorial integrity of the country." He also commented on the timing and manner that Brussels chose to make its double move, saying it was "dreadful". Viskovic added that his opinion was shared by some of his colleagues at the EU, who agreed that what happened was "one of those awkward and clumsy things" that "often happen to international officials when Serbia and the Kosovo problem are concerned."

Analyst: EU offer fine, timing dreadful

Now Visković, a political analyst and professor of international law at the University of Belgrade, assessed that Serbia should sign the interim agreement with the European Union and thereby show good will, "just as the EU showed good will by offering the document."

"I read carefully the proposed accord and absolutely found no link between it and Kosovo," Visković said.

This is also the position adopted by President Boris Tadić, but Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica vehemently opposes the signing, saying it would mean Serbia has given up on its southern province.

In an interview for the state television yesterday, Visković explained that the agreement could be signed, while a "special statement by the Serbian side could make it perfectly clear that the text is unrelated to the territorial integrity of the country."

He also commented on the timing and manner that Brussels chose to make its double move, saying it was "dreadful".

Visković added that his opinion was shared by some of his colleagues at the EU, who agreed that what happened was "one of those awkward and clumsy things" that "often happen to international officials when Serbia and the Kosovo problem are concerned."