Brussels, 19/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - Before his departure for Skopje, the EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, presented to the EU Council, on Monday in Brussels, an interim report defining the line of action that the EU should follow on southern Serbia. In the report requested by the last General Affairs Council, Mr Solana insists over the need to act quickly to support the efforts by the moderate forces on the Serb and Albanian sides, notably through an immediate economic support and by fighting against Albanian criminal activities. In line with the conclusions adopted by the Council, Mr Solana also insists for respect of the borders of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
Javier Solana underlines that the situations in the Presevo valley in the south of Serbia, in Kosovo and the FYROM must be dealt with according to "its own merits", as "it would be in the interests of the extremists to have this ethnic Albanian "triangle" handled as one". According to him, the EU must not miss the "window of opportunity" represented by the will of the Serb authorities to continue down the path of moderation and the interest for negotiation shown by the Albanian leaders, "including the armed groups". In fact, he asserts, "a solid and rapid contribution from the international community is crucial if the process is to move forward". In other words, "insufficient international action would increase the risk of new escalation with potentially severe consequences for stability in the region. It is time to put conflict prevention into practice by creating an enabling environment for the dialogue process to develop successfully".
In this context, the European aims must be as follows, indicated Javier Solana: 1) consolidate the new authorities in Belgrade; 2) encourage the moderate line; 3) support their efforts to tackle a "heritage of discrimination and under development" in southern Serbia and to reintegrate the Albanian population into the social fabric of the new democratic FRY; 4) support the moderate Albanian leaders; 5) prevent the contagion in Kosovo and the FYROM; 6) enhance cooperation between the EU and NATO in the region; 7) reinforce the EU capability to answer this kind of situation in a pro-active manner.
The EU must insist in its contacts with Belgrade on "the unity of the international community and underline that the problem in the south of Serbia, will be resolved through an approach including various actors" noted Mr Solana, when underlining that divergent points of view seem to co-exist in Belgrade over the role of the OSCE, NATO etc. In his talks with Albanian leaders, the EU must also "reaffirm the FRY's territorial integrity and underline in particular to Kosovo leaders that the heavy involvement of the international community to support Kosovo should not be taken for granted".
The High Representative calls for a gradual increase in the EU observers mission in southern Serbia up to 30 people, on the basis of the mandate defined in December 2000. He notes that the draft agreement between the EU and Belgrade stipulates that the host party "will take all the measures necessary" for the protection and security of this mission, and that NATO last week undertook to ensure the same level of protection for observers as for KFOR members.
In order to simplify a dialogue over the political rights of the Albanian community and the creation of confidence-building measures, the EU and the international community must effectively support the economic aspects of the Covic plan, felt Javier Solana. "Swift and effective implementation of projects will be crucial to show to the parties a direct result of their choice of the negotiated approach", he writes. European aid should concentrate on "public services, enhance the capabilities of local administrations, agriculture and energy", bilateral aid from the Member States for the projects with immediate tangible results such as the re-establishment of telephone lines and access to drinking water. The OSCE experience could be put to use to form a multi-ethnic police force ("a key sector over which it is necessary to concentrate"), with a financial support and in terms of human resources from the EU and its Member States.
In conclusion, Mr Solana insists for support to the Serb authorities in the fight against contraband and other criminal activities, "very widespread in southern Serbia". "Albanian armed groups are often engaged in such activities. Smuggling, in particular of arms, through the administrative borders of Kosovo is a particular concern", underlined Mr Solana.