"EU ambition elevated to status of dogma"

Unless Serbia has national unity and rejects demands to pay for EU membership with territory, it will experience a historic downfall, Vojislav Kostunica says. The leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and former Yugoslav president and Serbian prime minister told the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti in an interview that that it was not in Serbia's interest to obtain the EU candidate status if the EU did not accept Kosovo as an integral part of Serbia. "EU ambition elevated to status of dogma" "Since Brussels is pursuing a policy of creating an independent state of Kosovo, it would not be a shame if Serbia did not obtain the EU candidacy, not even from a purely economic aspect. This could turn out to be beneficial for the country in many ways," Kostunica was quoted as saying. He said Serbia was the only country in Europe whose government had set the EU candidacy as an issue more important than life itself, and elevated the EU integration to a dogma, which the west recognized as a sign that it could set conditions to Serbia infinitely. When asked if there was a danger that Serbia may lose both Kosovo and the EU, Kostunica said that Serbia cannot lose Kosovo. "To be precise, Serbia can lose Kosovo only if it gives it up itself. It is up to us to choose whether we will adhere to the Constitution and consider Kosovo as part of Serbia's territory, or we will succumb to threats and blackmail and renounce Kosovo. Why are we being threatened and pressured so much if we have already supposedly lost Kosovo," Kostunica wondered. Kostunica believes that, if the EU door closes because Serbia honors and defends the founding principles of the valid international legal order, one could conclude that the EU did not seriously intend to admit Serbia in the first place. "Anyhow, that would be a decision of the western powers, whereas Serbia would find the possibility to commit to itself and its own development by cooperating with other countries on equal grounds," Kostunica said, adding that Serbia should focus on protecting national interests, in which case the EU would have a higher regard for the country. Vojislav Kostunica (file)

"EU ambition elevated to status of dogma"

"Since Brussels is pursuing a policy of creating an independent state of Kosovo, it would not be a shame if Serbia did not obtain the EU candidacy, not even from a purely economic aspect. This could turn out to be beneficial for the country in many ways," Koštunica was quoted as saying.

He said Serbia was the only country in Europe whose government had set the EU candidacy as an issue more important than life itself, and elevated the EU integration to a dogma, which the west recognized as a sign that it could set conditions to Serbia infinitely.

When asked if there was a danger that Serbia may lose both Kosovo and the EU, Koštunica said that Serbia cannot lose Kosovo.

"To be precise, Serbia can lose Kosovo only if it gives it up itself. It is up to us to choose whether we will adhere to the Constitution and consider Kosovo as part of Serbia's territory, or we will succumb to threats and blackmail and renounce Kosovo. Why are we being threatened and pressured so much if we have already supposedly lost Kosovo," Koštunica wondered.

Koštunica believes that, if the EU door closes because Serbia honors and defends the founding principles of the valid international legal order, one could conclude that the EU did not seriously intend to admit Serbia in the first place.

"Anyhow, that would be a decision of the western powers, whereas Serbia would find the possibility to commit to itself and its own development by cooperating with other countries on equal grounds," Koštunica said, adding that Serbia should focus on protecting national interests, in which case the EU would have a higher regard for the country.