Janša: Serbia must make first move

The door of the EU is not closed for Serbia, but Belgrade must make the first move, believes Janez Janša.

Izvor: B92

Sunday, 02.03.2008.

11:43

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The door of the EU is not closed for Serbia, but Belgrade must make the first move, believes Janez Jansa. The Slovenian prime minister, whose country is almost half through its six-month rotating EU presidency, spoke in Austria Saturday when he said Brussels had "extended its hand to Serbia". Jansa: Serbia must make first move That attitude remains the same, "even though some discouraging signals have arrived from Serbia lately", Jansa said. Belgrade's ties with the Union took a downward spiral over Kosovo. Serbia views the Kosovo Albanians' Feb. 17 unilateral declaration of independence, recognized by some major EU countries, as an illegal violation of its sovereign borders. Another contributing factor has been the decision to send EU's mission to the province, which Belgrade also sees as illegal and in violation of valid UN Resolution 1244. But Jansa believes that the presidential elections in Serbia, held on Feb. 3, demonstrated that "most Serbs are pro-European", and added this is "encouraging for the EU". President Boris Tadic was re-elected campaigning on EU integration and the defense of Kosovo. He continues with announcements along these lines, but his party's coalition partner in the cabinet, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, says the Union must "first declare what it sees as Serbia and what Serbia's borders are", before the country can negotiate closer ties. Jansa also told reporters last night that the EU position on Kosovo is "united". Earlier, several member states, such as Romania, Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia and Greece have refused to recognize Kosovo's declaration. The Slovenian prime minister however emphasized that 12 members have already done so, and that there is "no turning back". "We are faced with challenges, to which we respond in a way that stabilizes the region, in the long-term," Jansa was confident. The EU's next hurdle in Kosovo will be to get approval from the UN for its mission. The UN secretary-general's office said this week such an invitation can only come from the Security Council, where Russia, which considers the mission, dubbed EULEX, illegal, blocks such moves.

Janša: Serbia must make first move

That attitude remains the same, "even though some discouraging signals have arrived from Serbia lately", Janša said.

Belgrade's ties with the Union took a downward spiral over Kosovo. Serbia views the Kosovo Albanians' Feb. 17 unilateral declaration of independence, recognized by some major EU countries, as an illegal violation of its sovereign borders.

Another contributing factor has been the decision to send EU's mission to the province, which Belgrade also sees as illegal and in violation of valid UN Resolution 1244.

But Janša believes that the presidential elections in Serbia, held on Feb. 3, demonstrated that "most Serbs are pro-European", and added this is "encouraging for the EU".

President Boris Tadić was re-elected campaigning on EU integration and the defense of Kosovo. He continues with announcements along these lines, but his party's coalition partner in the cabinet, Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, says the Union must "first declare what it sees as Serbia and what Serbia's borders are", before the country can negotiate closer ties.

Janša also told reporters last night that the EU position on Kosovo is "united".

Earlier, several member states, such as Romania, Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia and Greece have refused to recognize Kosovo's declaration.

The Slovenian prime minister however emphasized that 12 members have already done so, and that there is "no turning back".

"We are faced with challenges, to which we respond in a way that stabilizes the region, in the long-term," Janša was confident.

The EU's next hurdle in Kosovo will be to get approval from the UN for its mission.

The UN secretary-general's office said this week such an invitation can only come from the Security Council, where Russia, which considers the mission, dubbed EULEX, illegal, blocks such moves.

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