Kosovo protests turn violent as EU promises support[fr] 

Speaking on Wednesday at the EP Foreign Affairs Committee in Strasbourg (20 February), Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said he felt ashamed to be European following the recognition of Kosovo's independence by several EU member states. 

"What has been done to Serbia is a violation of the international system and of the values underlying European integration," Jeremic stated. 

"Serbia will not leave quietly, we will fight and we will not tolerate this secession. We will use all diplomatic, political and economic means at our disposal, without resorting to force," Jeremic said. 

He underlined his regret at the outbursts of violence that have taken place in Kosovo since its declaration of independence, notably an attack on two border posts between Serbia and northern Kosovo during which the NATO force (KFOR) was obliged to intervene. "We do not encourage or support this violence," he stressed.

Meanwhile, NATO troops have sealed Kosovo's northern borders after hundreds of Serbian protesters torched customs and policy posts at Jarinje and Brnjak. Kosovo police and UN customs officials were forced to withdraw as the crowds used bulldozers and explosives to demolish two border posts, according to witnesses. 

NATO's KFOR troops were called in and US, Estonian and French troops sealed both border crossings. 

Serbia's minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic, said his government intended to take control of the customs posts to establish what he called "the full authority of Serbian statehood". 

Thousands of people were heading to Belgrade today to protest Kosovo's declaration of independence. 

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the Commission was preparing to play its part and would propose concrete measures for the broader region "in order to advance its European aspirations" on 5 March. 

He added that it was important "to help Kosovo stand on its own two feet as quickly as possible," revealing that the Commission was also planning to organise a donors' conference before the summer in order to alleviate the most pressing financial problems. 

"A majority of the European Parliament believes the situation in Kosovo is untenable," said Polish MEP and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (EPP), adding that he "understood" the position of the Serbian authorities on Kosovo. He called for the EU-Serbia stabilisation agreement to be signed as soon as possible, put on hold by the Serbian government over fears that it would imply recognition of Kosovo's declaration of independence (EurActiv 07/02/2008). 

Slovenia's foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel reminded the House that under the Thessaloniki Agenda 2003, the EU had announced that the western Balkan countries would eventually become EU members. "Now is the time to recall our commitments and to do something for all the countries of the region," he said. Rupel talked of a mutual dependency between Serbia and the EU: "The EU needs Serbia and Serbia needs the EU," adding that "the time has come for true dialogue between the Serbs and the Albanians in Kosovo, between Serbia and Kosovo, between Serbia and the EU". 

Meeting with Kosovos political leaders in Pristina, the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Javier Solana, reiterated the European perspective of every single country of the Western Balkans, including Kosovo: "The EU and Kosovo, the Kosovo people, have had good relations in the past and this is something that is going to continue. 

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn condemned the use of violence and called on all leaders and people of the region "to remain calm and maintain peace and stability". Regarding Serbia, the Commissioner expressed his belief that "the time has come to turn the page on the past, and to look to the future," adding that "Serbia's future is in Europe" and that the whole region has the prospect of EU membership. 

The chairwoman of the European Parliament's Delegation to South-Eastern Europe, Doris Pack, called Kosovo's declaration of independence "inevitable", but expressed her concern about the solution which had been found: "I am convinced there will be problems ahead." She regretted that no negotiated solution was found on Kosovo with the participation of Serbia: "Anyone of us would have supported such a solution [...] the unilateral declaration of independence was the worst of all possibilities, with the exception of all others". 

Dutch Socialist MEP Jan Marinus Wiersma called upon all parties "to simply accept the reality on the ground". Although recognition of Kosovo "is a matter for member states," the European Parliament also had a role to play in the future of a multi-ethnic Kosovo, Wiersma said. 

The president of the GUE/NGL group, Francis Wurtz, accused those EU member states which have recognised Kosovo of "jeopardising the future of international law" by disrespecting Serbia's sovereignty. "The main powers in the Union are placing might above right. In doing so, they are opening a Pandora's Box," he said.