First Serbia-Kosovo face-off marked by tensions
28.02.2008 - 17:34 CET | By Elitsa Vucheva The first meeting of Serbian and Kosovar officials since Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was marked by tension and strong comments by Serbia's foreign minister, Vuk Jeremic. Both Serbian and Kosovar delegations were taking part in a meeting on regional cooperation between southeastern European countries in Sofia on Thursday (28 February), although Kosovo was there under a UN banner, represented by members of the UN mission in Kosovo – UNMIK - and Besim Beqaj, chair of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce. According to press reports, the Serbian delegation left the room when Mr Beqaj took the floor during the meeting. The Kosovar representative spoke "on behalf of the Republic of Kosovo" and said he had requested that "from now on, the Republic of Kosovo should be part of all regional bilateral and multinational approaches," AP reports. But Mr Jeremic told reporters: "Once Serbia is at this table, Kosovo will not be at the table as a participating member state." Kosovo declared independence on 17 February - a move unacceptable for Serbia, which sees it as an illegal act and considers Kosovo part of its territory. Balkans facing a choice - Kosovo or Serbia On Thursday, Mr Jeremic called on the other Balkan countries not to recognise Kosovo to prevent destabilising the region. In a passionate speech, Mr Jeremic told his counterparts: "It may be undiplomatic to say, but your countries find themselves facing the consequences of a perverse choice they asked from my country - to choose between Kosovo and Europe." "As a result of this, you are effectively being put in a situation to choose between Serbia and Kosovo," he added, according to Serbian news agency Tanjug. For his part, Bulgarian foreign minister Ivailo Kalfin, hosting the event, said that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina - "if there is a dialogue at all" - was very difficult, but that this had been expected. He underlined that the fact that both parties were sitting at the same table so shortly after Kosovo's declaration of independence is "very important [as] regional cooperation should include all." Members of the regional cooperation forum – called the South East Europe Cooperation Process – include Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia. Kosovo, which is still represented by UNMIK, has the status of an observer. So far, Albania and Turkey are the only countries in the regional forum to have recognised Pristina's declaration of independence. "As long as Serbia is, Kosovo shall never be" Mr Jeremic insisted that Kosovo will never be allowed to join international organisations such as the United Nations or the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Kosovo, which Serbians see as the cradle of their culture, was an autonomous Serbian province placed under UN administration in 1999. Its declaration of independence triggered massive protests in Serbia itself, but also in the parts of Kosovo predominantly inhabited by Serbs, as well as in neighbouring countries with important Serb population, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro. Meanwhile, Germany has become the first state to open an embassy in Pristina, Kosovar media reported on Thursday. On the same day, representatives from 15 nations that back Kosovo's independence met in Vienna for an inaugural session of the International Steering Group for Kosovo. The Group's mission will be to assist the new country towards democracy, and to promote multi-ethnicity and the rule of law. Pieter Feith, the European Union's representative in Kosovo, was appointed the International Civilian Representative for Kosovo. * Back <javascript:history.back()> * To <http://euobserver.com/9/25746/?rk=1#top> the top © 2008 EUobserver, All rights reserved
