New Kosova Report

EU bows down to Serbia's demands on Kosovo

Friday, 07 November 2008

EU is ready for its civil mission in Kosovo to be approved at the UN Security Council, stated yesterday French Ambassador to Belgrade, Jean Francois Terral, whose country leads the rotating EU presidency.

He said that despite rumors in Belgrade, EU will not require Serbia to recognize Kosovo independence, apparently in defense after negotiations with Belgrade over the shape of the EULEX mission in Kosovo.

"We have agreed with the proposal that EULEX mandate is approved by the Security Council, for it to be neutral towards status and for it not to be based on the Ahtisaari plan," continued Terral.

He seemed to be placating the fears of the ultranationalist circles in Belgrade which accused the government that by recognizing EULEX it would give up on Kosovo in exchange for EU integration. On 26 October, ex-Serb Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica accused the government for hiding behind the Security Council in allowing the EULEX to deploy in the "Serb province." "Neither Serbia nor Russia can be more Serb that ourselves. Through its propaganda, the government will represent this as another victory. The only victory left now is for Serbia to recognize Kosovo,” stated Kostunica for a Serb paper.

Similar statements to Terral were made by the Director of the EU Council on Western Balkans, Stefan Lehne. He said that the EU will not force Serbia to recognize Kosovo, but it expects cooperation on the minimum for the deployment of EULEX.

Lehne said that the EU expects Serbia to enable the participation of Kosovo on regional initiatives, as well as to encourage Kosovo Serbs to return to Kosovo insitutions "giving this way an end to self-isolation."

The report by the European Commission on Serbia’s progress on EU integration criteria is rather weak on non-cooperation with EULEX, EU’s largest ESDP mission ever outside of its borders, which is seriously behind schedule due to Serbia’s intransigence.

"Serbia has so far opposed reconfiguration of the international civilian presence in Kosovo and EULEX deployment. Serbia is encouraged to take a constructive approach towards Kosovo's participation in regional and international fora and to the EU's efforts to contribute to peace and stability in the Western Balkans,” read the key findings of the report on Serbia.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said on Monday his government will not accept a mission which is neutral towards status. The new deal between Brussels and Belgrade is expected to be ratified by a presidential declaration at the UN on Tuesday.

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2nd battalion,,rifles,, said:

...
It will be the biggest failure if EULEX comes up with something like that.. its a fact that russia is behind all this, i would say to every kosovan citizens don,t exept any offers but 1244 aht plan, which it stands for all ecthn backgrounds and republic of kosovo,, what serbs r trying to do is have similar position as in bosnia, and if kosovo accepts this, kosovans will be ruled again under serbs, and thats not what they want, dont be fooled by serb-russian politics and don,t let EULEX decide on your future,, kosovo is indep and will be forever, all and all you are doing just fine running yor country, if it wasn,t for belgrade pushing hate towards kosovans and serbs in kosovo, kosovo would be 100 times in better position as it now.. all and all.. u got help from USA,UK, AND GERMANY,, and thats enough for 2.2 mil of kosovars,, EULEX will back-stab you if you are not careful enough,, open your eyes and dont accept anything else apart from 1244 aht plan... greetings to all kosovars.....

November 11, 2008
Votes: +0

greatings form Norway! said:

	... Why do they talk to Serbia when Kosovo is an independent nation?
	report abuse vote down vote up

November 09, 2008
Votes: +1

European Guy said:

	... Thanks for those kind words, Mark. All I do is think with my head and not with my ass, like some 'patriots' in this region. Logic my friend. Peace with You, let not anymore churches nor mosques suffer from us. Those are the monuments that our ancestors built ant have stood for centuries.
	report abuse vote down vote up

November 08, 2008
Votes: +1

Mark (Shqype) said:

...
European Guy:

That was a very refreshing, respectful post to read. I'm glad you wrote it.

It's good to know that there are some Serbs that see the lunacy of Koshtunica's policies and rhetoric, and are prepared to accept the reality in order to move towards a better future in a stable Balkans. Yes, there is still resentment towards the Serbs and the Albanians, but they live together in Kosova so it's important for them to learn to work together and sort out their problems. Kosova is a democratic state where all voices can be heard; the Serbs just need to integrate into the country's institutions and their rights are guaranteed by the Constitution.

Thanks again for writing what you did; it gives us hope regarding the normalization of relations between our two peoples.

November 08, 2008
Votes: +2

European Guy said:

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Well, the good news is that EULEX mission is finally on its way of getting started with its work, and that work is establishing the functions of courts and rule of justice. The way I see it, this mission MUST be neutral in order to perform its main function, for it is not in its interest to take sides ( Serbian, Albanian or any other), for everyone is equal in the eyes of the law.

Kosovo was very recently a province of Serbia, it is with reason that You can not ask Serbia to recognize its independence. To everyday Serb, such as me, the independence means nothing for it doesn't interfere with every day life. My family has roots in that region, stretching all the way to medieval times, but that doesn't mean I'm going to start another war or to start to hate Albanians, for they did nothing to me, I even have some Albanians as friends.

Kosovo is, so politicians say, a DEMOCRATIC country. That means that everyone has same and equal rights, Albanians, Serbs, Roma. There is hatred still present, but it will ease with time. There are people here in Serbia that are already beginning to pay no attention to all of this. We must start to work together. I can not defend the things that certain Serbs down there did to Kosovo Albanians, but this must be made clear--not all Serbs supported that so called patriot action. It was performed by payed criminals and private armies. Ignore what that idiot Kostunica says, he is history now. Man, I really got disappointed by that man.

Hope everything will work out just fine.

Wish You luck down there.