EC "without comment" on former UN envoy's statements

BRUSSELS A spokesman for EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule says the European Commission "would not comment" on Martti Ahtisaari's recent statements. This former UN envoy in the Kosovo talks has said that Serbia "should not be allowed into the EU before it recognizes Kosovo". EC "without comment" on former UN envoy's statements "We do not comment on views voiced in the media by individuals, whether they are active or former politicians," Peter Stano told Tanjug's correspondent. Ahtisaari spoke for Croatian daily Vecernji List to say that Serbia should not be allowed to join the EU before it "recognized Kosovo". He also advised the country to "go to Russia" if it refused to accept this, and added that "no concessions should be made to Serbia when it comes to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina". Stano reiterated the united stance of the European Commission and the European Council that the recognition of Kosovo was not a requirement for accession. The spokesman recalled earlier statements by Stefan Fule and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton that the new Serbian government was expected "to continue reforms and resume talks with Pristina as soon as possible". Ahtisaari was involved in the failed Kosovo talks in 2007 as an envoy of the United Nations. His drafted a plan for Kosovo's supervised independence, but it was never approved by the UN Security Council. However, ethnic Albanians in the province used it as a basis of their unilateral declaration of independence, made in early 2008. Serbia rejected the proclamation as illegal. Five out of EU's 27 member-states also do not recognize the Kosovo UDI. B92 Tanjug

EC "without comment" on former UN envoy's statements

"We do not comment on views voiced in the media by individuals, whether they are active or former politicians," Peter Stano told Tanjug's correspondent.

Ahtisaari spoke for Croatian daily Večernji List to say that Serbia should not be allowed to join the EU before it "recognized Kosovo".

He also advised the country to "go to Russia" if it refused to accept this, and added that "no concessions should be made to Serbia when it comes to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina".

Stano reiterated the united stance of the European Commission and the European Council that the recognition of Kosovo was not a requirement for accession.

The spokesman recalled earlier statements by Stefan Fule and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton that the new Serbian government was expected "to continue reforms and resume talks with Priština as soon as possible".

Ahtisaari was involved in the failed Kosovo talks in 2007 as an envoy of the United Nations. His drafted a plan for Kosovo's supervised independence, but it was never approved by the UN Security Council.

However, ethnic Albanians in the province used it as a basis of their unilateral declaration of independence, made in early 2008.

Serbia rejected the proclamation as illegal. Five out of EU's 27 member-states also do not recognize the Kosovo UDI.