http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=06&dd=10&nav_id=50972
Serbia blocks Kosovo Eurochambres application 10 June 2008 | 12:17 | Source: Tanjug BELGRADE -- The Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) has blocked the membership application of its Kosovo counterpart to Eurochambres, the PKS announced yesterday. Although the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce’s application for admission to Eurochambres was on the agenda of the plenary session on June 6, the motion was not supported. Serbian Chamber President Milos Bugarin lodged a strong objection to the session’s agenda, adding that under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo was part of Serbia's territory under a UN protectorate. He strongly opposed even a debate on the issue, believing that this would do nothing but politicize Eurochambres’ work and position as the biggest and most important business association in Europe. Bugarin stressed that the Serbian Chamber had been a Eurochambres member since 2003 having taken over from the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce and Industry which itself had been a member since 1977. The Serbian Chamber's position was supported by Slovak Chamber of Commerce President Peter Mihok, President of the Hellenic Union of Chambers George Kasimatis, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of Cyprus Andreas Louroutziatis, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Georgy Petrov, President of the Romanian Chamber of Commerce Mihail Vlasov and Eurochambres President and President of the Paris Chamber of Commerce Pierre Simon. Simon said that regardless of the fact that a number of states had recognized Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration, there was not sufficient willingness to tackle such a delicate matter within the organization. Thus, the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce’s application for fully-fledged membership of Eurochambres was officially rejected. Eurochambres’ task is to represent the interests of European companies within EU institutions and bodies. The association, which represents the voice of the European business sector, comprises 46 members which make up a network of 2,000 regional and local chambers of commerce containing over 19 million companies.
