Kosovo not condition for EU, German ambassador claims

German Ambassador in Belgrade Wolfram Maas has said that recognition of Kosovo’s independence has never been a condition for Serbia’s EU integration. “But what we do expect is to solve problems that will allow normalization of relations. We know from experience that there is a large maneuvering space there,” he explained. Kosovo not condition for EU, German ambassador claims Maas stressed that the goal of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit was to see how much progress Serbia had made in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, adding that Merkel would support continuation of Serbia’s EU integration. According to the German ambassador, a potential EU candidate needs to provide political stability in its country, rule of law, appropriate legislation and judiciary and good neighborly relations and regional cooperation. Maas confirmed that regional cooperation and good neighborly relations referred to Kosovo and pointed out that Kosovo was a part of the region. “We have not decided how the relation between Belgrade and Pristina will be defined in detail. As far as Germany is concerned, we have recognized Kosovo as an independent state. Our Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said last year in Belgrade and ten days ago in Pristina that the borders in the region are final for us,“ the ambassador concluded. Wolfram Maas (FoNet, file)

Kosovo not condition for EU, German ambassador claims

Maas stressed that the goal of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit was to see how much progress Serbia had made in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, adding that Merkel would support continuation of Serbia’s EU integration.

According to the German ambassador, a potential EU candidate needs to provide political stability in its country, rule of law, appropriate legislation and judiciary and good neighborly relations and regional cooperation.

Maas confirmed that regional cooperation and good neighborly relations referred to Kosovo and pointed out that Kosovo was a part of the region.

“We have not decided how the relation between Belgrade and Priština will be defined in detail. As far as Germany is concerned, we have recognized Kosovo as an independent state. Our Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said last year in Belgrade and ten days ago in Priština that the borders in the region are final for us,“ the ambassador concluded.