Europe Reclaiming Its Own Independence
Currently presiding over the Council of Europe, Serbia is also hosting the most unique exhibition under the open skies of Belgrade’s medieval Kalemegdan fort, magnificent works by the National Geographic photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand.
Council of Europe: Kosovo Province is Integral Part of Serbia
On Tuesday, speaking about the status of the southern Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija during the summer session of the Council of Europe Parliament in Strasbourg, the institution’s Secretary General Terry Davis told journalists that the CoE supports territorial integrity of all its member states, including Serbia. He added that the issue of the status of Kosovo-Metohija was one for the UN Security Council, and that position of the Council of Europe can only be changed if the UN Security Council adopts a resolution which would impose changing of the borders of Republic of Serbia.
At the same time, Davis said, awaiting a decision from the UN, the Council of Europe will continue to treat Kosovo-Metohija province as an integral part of Serbia.
In case Pristina separatists would declare independence for the province unilaterally, and the United States decides to recognize Serbian province as a new state, the CoE will not change its position, “since the U.S. is not a member of the Council of Europe,” Davis concluded.
Belgium: New Negotiations Without Predetermined Results
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht was quoted Wednesday in the Albanian separatist paper Express as saying that many members of the Security Council and of the EU think that unconditional negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade should begin. This, says the paper, means dropping a clause in the draft resolution for Kosovo which specifies automatic approval of the Ahtisaari’s draft after 120 days of negotiations.
The move is categorized by the Kosovo Albanian separatists as “another concession to Russia which is much greater than before.” “It is such a great concession that it is not known how the Unity Team and the Kosovo citizens will receive it,” it adds.
De Gucht’s statement in Express clarifies the view that Kosovo will not move automatically to independence if the parties fail to agree after 120 days of new negotiations which is how it is regulated by the recent draft resolution.
The paper says de Gucht’s statement comes after his meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic.
Express says that de Gucht echoed the words of the Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin, who said recently that it is meaningless to hold new talks if the final outcome is known in the beginning. “For as long as you want to offer the possibility of new negotiations, you should not say what the outcome of those negotiations will be, before they even begin,” de Gucht said.
The paper notes that the statement of the Belgian official indicates that Russia has managed to change the course of the international community towards Kosovo-Metohija status by opening a new process which may invalidate Ahtisaari’s package and be replaced with another solution.
“We are in favor of a type of moratorium which would not last more than four months. During this time, there should be negotiations but without preempting the result,” de Gucht added.