Brussels, 08/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - This weekend in Viana do Castelo, the EU foreign affairs ministers reaffirmed their commitment to remaining united, whatever the future status of Kosovo, and to playing a leading role within the troika contact group in the search for a negotiated solution by 10 December. “The EU's will is to stay united. Today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow”, said EU High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana following the informal meeting which was also attended by Wolfgang Ischinger, the EU representative in the contact group. Kosovo is “a European issue” on which the EU would stake its credibility, Mr Solana said. “We are now speaking with one voice”, Commissioner Olli Rehn said. The Portuguese foreign affairs minister and current President of the Council Luis Amado was more cautious: “We will do all we can to maintain this unity”, but in an EU of 27 Member States and different perceptions, “I cannot make any guarantees” (that this will be possible to the end). At this stage, everyone recognises that “the unity of the EU is a key stabilising factor in this complex dossier”.
After the traumatic experience of the war in Iraq, the EU wants to avoid at any price new divisions between Member States at a time when the Serbian and Albanian Kosovars have just begun a final attempt to arrive at a negotiated solution. This will be even more true if, after 10 December, which is the deadline set by the two parties for the talks, the Kosovars unilaterally declare their independence. At that time EU member states will also be faced with the issue of international recognition for Kosovo - a matter on which opinions diverge across the capitals. The United Kingdom and other countries could be tempted to follow the probable recognition of Kosovo by the United States, while other member states (Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania) are plainly against such a scenario as they fear that it could provide a precedent for other minorities, including those in their own countries. Other countries again, like Germany, warn against the effect the recognition of the independence of Kosovo would have on relations with Russia, which is fiercely opposed to such an outcome. “I do not believe we can retain the slightest credibility in terms of foreign policy if this (division within the EU) were to happen,” Mr Amado told press. “Kosovo is a test case for the Union's common foreign policy,” Mr Rehn said too.
At this point, the EU still does not know how it will respond to the various options possible after 10 December, but the preparation of a joint EU response to the various potential scenarios will be the Portuguese presidency's “priority of priorities” over the coming weeks, especially in November when the situation should become clearer, Mr Amado said. Between now and the crucial date of 10 December, the EU wants to play an active and constructive role in the troika which is overseeing talks between Belgrade and Pristina. “My impression is that the Troika has made a good start” on its way to a negotiated settlement, Mr Solana said. “At any rate, it has the full and unanimous support of the European Union” in getting there, he said, adding that the partition of Kosovo was a scenario that no one had raised at Viana do Castelo. The EU was doing all in its power, but the ball was in the court of Belgrade and Pristina: “It is up to those two to seize this last chance” by 10 December, Mr Rehn stated. (hb)