German ambassador addresses "Kosovo recognition" demand

German Ambassador to Serbia Wolfram Maas said on Wednesday that "the EU does not insist that Belgrade should recognize Kosovo's independence". A solution for the life of ordinary people should be found, he stated. German ambassador addresses "Kosovo recognition" demand His comments came after a visiting delegation of Germany's MPs said their country's parliament would not allow Serbia to join unless there was at least a de facto recognition of Serbia of its southern province. Ethnic Albanians there in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence. Serbia rejected the proclamation. Five out of EU's 27 countries also do not recognize Kosovo. "We have always made it clear that we not insist on a particular type of solution for the Kosovo issue, but on a solution in favor of the people," Maas told Tanjug. "The European Union cannot be interested in admitting a country that has unresolved territorial issues. Germany has experienced such problems. Therefore we are looking for a practical solution to the benefit of the people of Kosovo," he said. He noted that "regional cooperation and good neighborly relations are some of the criteria for admission of new members into the EU, as envisaged by the Copenhagen criteria". The German ambassador also expressed hope that the Serbian government will fulfill the remaining obligations towards the EU. The European Commission progress report provides a list of points on which more work is needed. Of course it is a painstaking bureaucratic process which takes time, he added. "Given the enthusiasm for this responsible work, then there is no doubt that Serbia can rapidly learn these things. There will be a specific issues on which it will be necessary to reach political decisions. In this respect, a major step forward was the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladic," Maas said following the opening of competition for students, entitled, "Welcome to Germany". Wolfram Maas (FoNet, file)

German ambassador addresses "Kosovo recognition" demand

His comments came after a visiting delegation of Germany's MPs said their country's parliament would not allow Serbia to join unless there was at least a de facto recognition of Serbia of its southern province.

Ethnic Albanians there in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence. Serbia rejected the proclamation. Five out of EU's 27 countries also do not recognize Kosovo.

"We have always made it clear that we not insist on a particular type of solution for the Kosovo issue, but on a solution in favor of the people," Maas told Tanjug.

"The European Union cannot be interested in admitting a country that has unresolved territorial issues. Germany has experienced such problems. Therefore we are looking for a practical solution to the benefit of the people of Kosovo," he said.

He noted that "regional cooperation and good neighborly relations are some of the criteria for admission of new members into the EU, as envisaged by the Copenhagen criteria".

The German ambassador also expressed hope that the Serbian government will fulfill the remaining obligations towards the EU.

The European Commission progress report provides a list of points on which more work is needed. Of course it is a painstaking bureaucratic process which takes time, he added.

"Given the enthusiasm for this responsible work, then there is no doubt that Serbia can rapidly learn these things. There will be a specific issues on which it will be necessary to reach political decisions. In this respect, a major step forward was the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladić," Maas said following the opening of competition for students, entitled, "Welcome to Germany".