Brussels, 13/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - That five EU member states (Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania) have yet to recognise its independence should not prevent Kosovo from making its way along the road towards Europe, Kosovo Deputy Foreign Minister Vlora Citaku told a small group of journalists in Brussels on 13 February. The problem is clear: Kosovo, like all the other Balkan states, hopes to join the EU. But how can the EU begin the association and stabilisation process and undertake negotiations on a stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) with it, when it is not recognised by all 27 member states? The Council has asked the European Commission to consider how, given the political and legal circumstances, the EU can even interact with Kosovo to help it bring about the reforms needed and move closer to the Union. The Commission report is expected by the autumn (it will form part of the regular annual report on Kosovo). At this point, it is too early to say what will be the outcome of this deliberation, because “the situation is very complicated”, particularly since it is not up to the EU to recognise third countries, Commission sources said. One thing is certain: a “pragmatic” way of beginning the process with Kosovo has to be found “because we can't just let it drop,” Commission sources say. It should not be forgotten that the EU rule of law mission to Kosovo (EULEX) was deployed by all 27 member states, despite the fact that five did not recognise the country.
Citaku called on the EU to show imagination in finding a way around this “real problem”. “Where there's a will, there's a way,” she said. The simplest solution would be for the five member states to recognise the independence of Kosovo, but there is nothing to suggest that this will happen in the near future. “We have regular contact and expect their recognition in due course.” Whatever happens, Kosovo is determined to keep moving along the way towards Europe. “Whatever the name given to the process, we will do our duty” to prepare the country to join the EU, Citaku said. With 85% support for the EU, “Kosovo is the most pro-European country,” she said.
Serbia. Deputy Foreign Minister Citaku did not mince her words with Belgrade, accusing it of “manipulating” the Serbian minority (10% of the population of Kosovo) virtually all in the north of the country and “not fully integrated”. The Serbian authorities were using the Serbian minority to make sure the Kosovan state could not operate properly, Citaku said. When asked if, with tensions between the two communities so tense, Pristina should not fear that Serbia, much further along the road to integration, could, once it becomes a member of the EU, block Kosovo's accession, the minister replied, “I hope Serbia could become a member of the EU tomorrow. It would be great to have an EU neighbour”. For that to be the case, Serbia would have to begin intensive, peaceful cooperation with its neighbours, including Kosovo, she said. “En bloc” accession of the Balkan countries would be “ideal”, but Pristina has no complaints with the principle, dear to the EU, that every applicant country should be dealt with on its own merits.
EULEX. Citaku regretted that the mission had not been deployed last December. “I am very unhappy with the timetable. The mission should have been in place a long time ago. It took too long,” she said. It was still too early to comment on how the mission works and how effective it is, she said. The United Nations Mission to Kosovo (UNMIK), however, should withdraw, she said. “The mission was successful, but it is time for it to go” because Kosovo's status had changed, she argued.
On 17 February, Pristina will celebrate the first anniversary of its declaration of independence, which has hitherto been recognised by 54 countries around the world. “We have shown that we function as a state. Our independence is an irreversible fact,” the minister claimed. Even the International Court of Justice, to which Serbia has turned for a decision on the legality of the unilateral declaration of independence, will not be able to change anything, she insisted. (H.C./transl.rt)