New govt. to cooperate on UNMIK reconfiguration

FM Vuk Jeremic says a new government in Belgrade will be ready to cooperate with the UN in finding "an adequate solution" to UNMIK's reconfiguration. After meeting with his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos in Madrid on Saturday, Jeremic, DS, explained that "an adequate solution" would be one acceptable to Belgrade and securing support at the UN Security Council. New govt. to cooperate on UNMIK reconfiguration He added that Serbia has Spain's backing on this issue, as well as assurances that Madrid "has no intention" of recognizing Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence of nearly five months ago. Serbia, Jeremic said, welcomes the EU's readiness to become engaged within the international civilian presence in Kosovo, but "has a firm position that reconfiguration must occur with adequate support from the UN SC". "We are ready to talk to the UN to see how to achieve an adequate reconfiguration, that would include the EU participation. However, this cannot take place unilaterally," Jeremic said. Previously, Belgrade said that plans to deploy the EU mission in the province, dubbed EULEX, were "illegal without a new UN resolution". Yesterday, Moratinos confirmed that Spain will not change its position on Kosovo. "As you know, Spain has not recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. The framework for our action is that stability in the region must be secured." "We have talked about EULEX deployment and I hope that as a new Serbia government is formed, we will be able to make progress in the EU engagement in the region," the Spanish minister told journalists. According to reports, Jeremic also told Morantinos about Serbia's ambition "to become an EU candidate by the end of this year".

New govt. to cooperate on UNMIK reconfiguration

He added that Serbia has Spain's backing on this issue, as well as assurances that Madrid "has no intention" of recognizing Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence of nearly five months ago.

Serbia, Jeremić said, welcomes the EU's readiness to become engaged within the international civilian presence in Kosovo, but "has a firm position that reconfiguration must occur with adequate support from the UN SC".

"We are ready to talk to the UN to see how to achieve an adequate reconfiguration, that would include the EU participation. However, this cannot take place unilaterally," Jeremić said.

Previously, Belgrade said that plans to deploy the EU mission in the province, dubbed EULEX, were "illegal without a new UN resolution".

Yesterday, Moratinos confirmed that Spain will not change its position on Kosovo.

"As you know, Spain has not recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. The framework for our action is that stability in the region must be secured."

"We have talked about EULEX deployment and I hope that as a new Serbia government is formed, we will be able to make progress in the EU engagement in the region," the Spanish minister told journalists.

According to reports, Jeremić also told Morantinos about Serbia's ambition "to become an EU candidate by the end of this year".