Austrian FM on Balkan integration

Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said that he and Greek officials will begin working on the EU “initiative for the Western Balkans” next week.

Izvor: Tanjug

Sunday, 17.01.2010.

16:25

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Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said that he and Greek officials will begin working on the EU “initiative for the Western Balkans” next week. He said that the goal is to get the countries of the region to participate in the EU and integration into the Union faster than ever before. Austrian FM on Balkan integration Spindelegger also said that he hopes that negotiations with Croatia for EU accession will be finished this year. The Austrian minister said that the blockade resulting from the border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia ended in late 2009, and that this moment should be taken advantage of. Spindelegger said that Austria wants to be a mediator in solving the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece, adding that he hopes that a solution for the problem will be found by springtime. Spindelegger said that by 2020, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania will be EU member-states. However, he was much more careful when talking about Kosovo. “A lot of time is needed there for things to happen,” Spindelegger said, explaining that all countries of the EU must recognize Kosovo’s independence, which has not happened. However, he said that Kosovo integration is a part of the Western Balkans plan as well. He said that the talks with Turkey are “on ice” and will remain that way until the situation between Turkey and Cyprus changes. “There are no paths leading around Cyprus,” he said. He said that EU presiding member-state Spain’s plans to open four new chapters of negotiations with Turkey in the first half of the year are “very ambitious” because of this.

Austrian FM on Balkan integration

Spindelegger also said that he hopes that negotiations with Croatia for EU accession will be finished this year.

The Austrian minister said that the blockade resulting from the border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia ended in late 2009, and that this moment should be taken advantage of.

Spindelegger said that Austria wants to be a mediator in solving the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece, adding that he hopes that a solution for the problem will be found by springtime.

Spindelegger said that by 2020, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania will be EU member-states.

However, he was much more careful when talking about Kosovo.

“A lot of time is needed there for things to happen,” Spindelegger said, explaining that all countries of the EU must recognize Kosovo’s independence, which has not happened.

However, he said that Kosovo integration is a part of the Western Balkans plan as well.

He said that the talks with Turkey are “on ice” and will remain that way until the situation between Turkey and Cyprus changes.

“There are no paths leading around Cyprus,” he said.

He said that EU presiding member-state Spain’s plans to open four new chapters of negotiations with Turkey in the first half of the year are “very ambitious” because of this.

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