Kosovo warned not to declare independence unilaterally

EU foreign ministers on Monday (19 November) sent out a warning to the newly elected Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci not to declare independence unilaterally next month.

As the 10 December deadline for the conclusion of talks on the future status of Kosovo edges closer, EU foreign ministers on called on Belgrade and Pristina to “show greater flexibility [and] respond positively and constructively” in the current round of talks led by a troika made up of EU, US and Russian representatives. The EU reiterated the “necessity of rapidly finding a solution to the Kosovo status issue”.

EU representative to the troika talks, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, briefed foreign ministers on the state of play, but EU diplomats are doubtful that the current round of negotiations will bring an agreement on the final status of Kosovo.

Newly elected Kosovo leader and former guerilla Hashmin Thaci said he would declare independence “immediately” after the talks are concluded on 10 December. But EU foreign ministers cautioned such a move, warning that this might plunge the Balkans into another crisis.

“We need a soft landing on this issue, or we will have a hard crash,” Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said on 19 November.

However, the EU still lacks a common position, as member states remain split on the issue. While most countries are ready to recognise a unilateral declaration of independence from Kosovo, a number of member states, including Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia, have voiced reservations, for fear of separatist movements.

“There is a very big EU majority ready for recognition, certainly well above 20, but we haven’t got to 27 yet,” said British Europe Minister Jim Murphy, according to Reuters. “But in terms of managing this process, it’s a much better outcome for everyone involved if there’s maximum international unity.”

Meanwhile, the EU is preparing for its possible security mission in Kosovo. Foreign ministers stated that “the EU stands ready to play a significant role in Kosovo in the future”.

Read more with Euractiv

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