http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2008/02/a7d12b47-f449-45b7-af32-7b1ec88 d2030.html
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty February 7, 2008 Serbia: EU Relations Near Collapse Over Kosovo By Ahto Lobjakas -[T]here could be a snag if Russia succeeds in persuading UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon not to give the EU mission his support - which Moscow will attempt to do.... BRUSSELS - Serbia's relations with the EU are teetering on the brink of collapse after Belgrade spurned an EU offer to cement ties. In response to Boris Tadic's reelection as Serbia's president on February 3, the EU offered a cooperation treaty that would have reaffirmed Serbia's future in the bloc, and offered concessions linked to visas, trade, and educational exchanges. Tadic wants to pursue closer relations with the EU regardless of the fate of Kosovo. However, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said this week the EU's offer was made in bad faith and aimed at prizing Kosovo from Serbia. The EU issued a terse statement on February 7 calling on Serbia to sign the new agreement "in the following days." .... EU sources told RFE/RL that Serbia's government appears to be split on the issue, with Kostunica overruling coalition partners keen to develop ties with the EU. The EU is likely to approve a 1,800-strong mission of legal and law enforcement advisers to Kosovo when the bloc's foreign ministers meet on February 18.... Russia entered the fray on February 6, when its ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, told journalists that Kosovo will be "a thorn" in EU-Russia dialogue. Russia is blocking UN agreement on Kosovo's independence. A number of EU member states - led by Spain and Cyprus- are skeptical about Kosovo's independence. But EU officials say the bloc's legal support mission to Kosovo will go ahead regardless of Serbia's objections. However, there could be a snag if Russia succeeds in persuading UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon not to give the EU mission his support - which Moscow will attempt to do, according to Chizhov. The EU is proceeding under the assumption that the mission will need a green light both from Pristina and the UN secretary-general. =========================== Stop NATO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato To subscribe, send an e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================== ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yugoslaviainfo/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yugoslaviainfo/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
