Brussels, 12/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Union would be mistaken in thinking that any possible acceleration of the process of Serbia's European integration, as Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi recently suggested, could cause Belgrade to change its opposition to the independence of Kosovo, since the two issues are quite separate and cannot, therefore, be “traded off” one against the other, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Wednesday. “Our position (on Kosovo) is one of principle”, so there is no possibility of considering a deal linking this with Serbia's accession to the EU, he told press after a meeting with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.
For Belgrade, there can be no solution imposed which runs counter to international law and the basic principles of the United Nations, including, notably, respect for states sovereignty and territorial integrity, Kostunica said, warning against a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo and its possible recognition by the international community: such a “violation” of international law and the United Nations Charter would be a threat to the peace and stability of the region and would cause “damage to many countries, not only in the Balkans”, which would have to face similar claims for independence inside their own borders. “But it would be the United Nations that would suffer the most,” he added.
A few hours before, after a meeting with EU High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana, Kostunica stated that, contrary to some misunderstandings that had appeared in the press last week, Serbia was not threatening to resort to force in the event of the Kosovo Albanians unilaterally declaring their independence. “Serbia is not threatening any country in the region. However, statements from some capitals in support of the unilateral independence of Kosovo are threats to Serbia. We are concerned to hear this kind of message against the territorial integrity of our country”. He told press that it was essential that the status of Kosovo was decided by the UN Security Council.
European leaders and Kostunica also spoke about the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) on which technical negotiations were completed this week (see EUROPE 9499). Whether or not the text is signed will now depend solely on Belgrade's full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). “We are aware of our obligations” in this area Kostunica said noting that a large number of fugitives had already been apprehended and transferred to The Hague. Solana said he had “confidence” in the ability of the Serbian authorities to meet this final criterion as quickly as possible, thereby allowing the agreement to be signed. ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte will travel to Belgrade “in the next few days” and will report to the European Commission on her return. (hb)