"EU exerting strong pressure on Serbia"

The EU circles and the member countries that have recognized Kosovo are increasing pressure on Belgrade over Kosovo, says Beta news agency.

Izvor: Beta

Thursday, 22.07.2010.

10:46

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The EU circles and the member countries that have recognized Kosovo are increasing pressure on Belgrade over Kosovo, says Beta news agency. The pressure is aimed at preventing Belgrade from demand new talks on the status of Kosovo a the UN. "EU exerting strong pressure on Serbia" Last week, top officials of Belgium, which currently holds the EU rotating presidency, made it clear to President Boris Tadic that granting Serbia the status of candidate country would depend on Belgrade's moves concerning Kosovo, writes the agency. Now, the stand that Kosovo and Serbia's accession to the EU are two separate processes is no longer mentioned in European Union circles. The Belgian officials even stated that the EU could seek from the European Commission an opinion on Serbia's candidacy for membership no sooner than in December, which has thus far been a technical matter. Belgrade has received, though unofficially, suggestions to harmonize as much as possible with the EU the resolution that Serbia intends to forward to the UN General Assembly based on the advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo Albanians' unilaterally declared independence, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to issue on Thursday. The EU sources in Brussels, whom Beta spoke to, could not confirm that any sort of official EU suggestion has been forwarded to Belgrade. After the ICJ announces its opinion, EU Foreign and Security High Representative Catherine Ashton is to present the EU stand on July 22, and call on Belgrade and Pristina to a dialog on issues of common interest. There is also the idea of the EU organizing a meeting of Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels. For the time being there is no explanation on how the 27-member EU will reach a common stand on whether the status issue - either directly or indirectly - could be discussed, considering that 22 out of 27 EU countries have recognized Kosovo.

"EU exerting strong pressure on Serbia"

Last week, top officials of Belgium, which currently holds the EU rotating presidency, made it clear to President Boris Tadić that granting Serbia the status of candidate country would depend on Belgrade's moves concerning Kosovo, writes the agency.

Now, the stand that Kosovo and Serbia's accession to the EU are two separate processes is no longer mentioned in European Union circles.

The Belgian officials even stated that the EU could seek from the European Commission an opinion on Serbia's candidacy for membership no sooner than in December, which has thus far been a technical matter.

Belgrade has received, though unofficially, suggestions to harmonize as much as possible with the EU the resolution that Serbia intends to forward to the UN General Assembly based on the advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo Albanians' unilaterally declared independence, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to issue on Thursday.

The EU sources in Brussels, whom Beta spoke to, could not confirm that any sort of official EU suggestion has been forwarded to Belgrade.

After the ICJ announces its opinion, EU Foreign and Security High Representative Catherine Ashton is to present the EU stand on July 22, and call on Belgrade and Priština to a dialog on issues of common interest.

There is also the idea of the EU organizing a meeting of Belgrade and Priština in Brussels.

For the time being there is no explanation on how the 27-member EU will reach a common stand on whether the status issue - either directly or indirectly - could be discussed, considering that 22 out of 27 EU countries have recognized Kosovo.

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