Brussels, 04/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, criticised the attitude of the United States and Russia over the question of the future status of Kosovo, calling on both powers to abstain from unilateral declarations or initiatives, and instead to support a multilateral solution by the United Nations Security Council. “Kosovo's status should not be settled by unilateral declarations or unilateral veto threats, but by effective and responsible multilateralism”, said Mr Rehn, speaking in Berlin on Wednesday at a conference held by the German SPD party. Mr Rehn referred also to recent American declarations indicating that Washington may unilaterally recognise Kosovo's independence, and veto threats voiced by Russia, in the event of a decision by a vote of the Security Council on independence for the Serbian province. Europe has a major interest in ensuring that the solution found for Kosovo is sustainable, because “it is Europe that will pay the price, if the status process failed”. “Neither Russia nor the United States is so directly affected by what happens in the Balkans as we Europeans are”, he stressed. In the view of Mr Rehn, the role of the EU in Kosovo- which must be “democratic, multi-ethnic and economically viable”- will be a “test” of the capacity of the Union to tackle security challenges on its own continent. The affair of Kosovo also demonstrates the need for the EU to take on coordination mechanisms and more effective foreign policy instruments, as provided for by the new Treaty, concluded Mr Rehn. (hb)