Brussels, 26/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The EU15 Foreign Ministers, who met on Monday at the General Affairs Council, condemned the violence perpetrated in Kosovo and southern Serbia against the Serbs, and gave their broad support to the Covic plan for Presevo. They mainly decided to increase to 30 the number of European observers under tension in southern Serbia. For Kosovo as for Presevo, "we have adopted the same political message to condemn the violence committed by groups of ethnic Albanians, but we have also passed on the message that the EU is keen on helping" to resolve the conflict, said EU Council President Anna Lindh, at the close of work.
In its conclusions on the situation in the Presevo Valley, the Council expressed its "concern at the level of tension and violence in south-east Serbia and condemned actions by ethnic Albanian armed groups, which threaten to destabilise the region". The Council "supported the initiative of the Belgrade authorities" and appealed to the Albanian community in south-east Serbia to take the necessary provisions to engage in constructive dialogue with the authorities of FRY and Serbia. Furthermore, it "called on all involved to isolate the extremists, to promote reconciliation and multi-ethnic cooperation and work constructively towards a peaceful solution of the conflict, with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY". Regarding the economic and social aspects of the Covic plan, the Fifteen welcomed the fact that Belgrade had said it was prepared to take measures to ensure the integration of ethnic Albanians in the Serb society, including in the local Serb administrations, and to assure the protection of minorities, as far as possible. The conclusions, however, do not mention the question of safety areas, which is also one of the points covered by the Covic plan. "This matter comes under NATO", it is explained at the Council.
The Council stressed the importance of the role of European observers, and supported the intention of Javier Solana to increase to 30 the number of European observers in Presevo, in coming days. This is a "first stage" in EU assistance of Presevo, stressed Anna Lindh, specifying, moreover, that the number of observers could even be greater later. The Council also appointed Antoin Mac Unfraidh, currently Irish Ambassador in Turkey, as Head of the Observer Mission. It also approved the projects already undertaken by the Commission and the Member States and invited them to envisage increasing their aid.
Finally, the EU15 Foreign Ministers endorsed the letter by Mr Solana on the question of the Presevo Valley (see EUROPE of 23 February, pp. 4/5), and invited him to specify these proposals in coming days in order to pursue the stage by stage approach begun with the sending of observers and aid decided by the Commission. Javier Solana is invited to present, as a matter of urgency, a series of proposals intended to continue EU action in the Presevo Valley. The High Representative made it clear that he would be at NATO on Tuesday to coordinate EU and Alliance actions effectively.
Kosovo: Council supports Hans Haekkerup
The Fifteen expressed their "full support" of the new UN Secretary General Special Representative (UNSRSG) in Kosovo, Hans Haekkerup, during his first meeting with the Council. The Fifteen approve his determination to "develop (…) a legal framework for provisional institutions for self-government, including adequate safeguards for minority rights". The Council agrees with the UNSRSG that "establishment of the legal framework, and in particular the definition of the functions and the powers of the elected bodies, is essential to ensure successful Kosovo wide elections". The Council also stressed the "need to develop the electoral system further", and insisted on the importance of the "participation of communities in the ballot".
The Council "strongly condemned the latest attack against a convoy of buses carrying Kosovo Serbs close to Podujevo". "This act of terrorism is a serious blow against the interests of the people of Kosovo", warned the Council. ""it will not be allowed to undermine the efforts of the international community to implement fully UNSCR 1244", said the Council, restating its support of KFOR and UNMIK.
During the afternoon, the Council also decided to lift the ban on visas and the freeze on assets for a certain number of Serbs still targeted by this sanction. Henceforth, only Milosevic, his family and the persons indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague will be subject to the sanctions.
Javier Solana and Chris Patten also met Montenegrin President Milo Dukanovic. EUROPE will come back to this tomorrow.