EU and US have 'converging' views on Kosovo and Serbia
AUGUSTIN PALOKAJ 15.10.2010 @ 09:32 CET US secretary of state Hillary Clinton discussed the current situation in the Western Balkans with EU officials during her recent visit to Brussels. One of the main issues addressed was the talks between Kosovo and Serbia planned to take place under the patronage of the European Union. Although there were no official statements on Balkan issues after Mrs Clinton's meeting with the EU's foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, sources said it had been a constructive meeting: "Both sides expressed support for the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans region." According to one source, the meeting showed that the "EU and US have converging views on the modalities of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia". The term used was "converging views" rather than the "same views" as the EU cannot speak with one voice on Kosovo since five member states do not recognise its statehood. The latest UN General Assembly resolution calls for talks between Kosovo and Serbia to be facilitated by the EU but Kosovo would prefer to see the US play a major part as well, since it places greater trust in Washington than it does in Brussels. "From the EU's side there is no problem in having the US play a role in the dialogue but for this all sides have to agree," said an EU source. Kosovo does not want to see its status issue on the agenda for the upcoming talks but Serbia insists that the question is not yet resolved. Mrs Clinton assured the Kosovo government during her visit to the capital Pristina on Wednesday that there would be no more status negotiations. "Some matters such as the status, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo are not up for discussion. But the leaders of both countries must approach the dialogue in good faith and with respect for each others' concerns," she said after meeting Kosovan Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. The majority of European capitals share the US' opinion that the matter is not up for discussion. But since five members of the EU still refuse to treat Kosovo as a state, the Union cannot officially and publicly exclude the possibility. http://waz.euobserver.com/887/31045
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