New Kosova Report

Swedish FM: Kosovo may become EU member

Monday, 10 March 2008

Carl Bildt and Hashim Thaci in Prishtina

Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Sunday that Kosovo may become a European Union member even thought it would not be a member of the United Nations.

Bildt based his statement in the Switzerland example, saying "it negotiated the EU membership before becoming a UN member state."

Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February, can not become a UN member state in the near future because of the strong opposition from Serbia and its ally Russia.

At the end of his two day visit in Pristina, Bildt was sure there will not be recognition of Kosovo independence not only from Russia but from some other countries. "I don't expect China to recognize, either," said the chief of Sweden's diplomacy.

He said that the EU foreign ministers will discuss on Monday in Brussels the Kosovo and regional situation in the Western Balkans.

Bildt is the first foreign minister to visit Pristina since ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia on Feb. 17.

He described the current situation on the ground as complicated. At the time of his departure from Kosovo some twenty Serbs protested at Merdare crossing point between Kosovo and Serbia.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci unveiled there Sunday morning a table citing "the Republic of Kosovo" in Albanian, Serbian and English. Angry Serbs protest ended peacefully.