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Sat, May 26 2012
EU foreign policy chief Ashton’s messages to Kosovo and Serbia
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has called on Serbia and Kosovo to settle their differences and she has reaffirmed that Kosovo’s future "is European" – while urging Pristina to follow through its commitments to deal with serious challenges including corruption and crime.
Interviewed by leading Kosovo daily Koha Ditore before a visit to Pristina, Ashton said that the Western Balkans, Kosovo included, was a very important priority in EU foreign policy and a personal priority for her.
Kosovo, Ashton said, faced major challenges including unemployment, corruption, crime and other socio-economic problems.
In a speech in Belgrade on February 18 2010, Ashton touched on the standoff over Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia two years ago: "We understand that Kosovo remains an important issue for Serbia," she said.
"However, different views on the status of Kosovo should not prevent us from moving forward in solving practical issues.
"In particular, regional co-operation must move forward. Kosovo must be enabled in a pragmatic way to participate in regional cooperation initiatives," Ashton said.
Kosovo was an integral part of the EU 's Western Balkans strategy, she said.
"The EU may have left the status issue to individual member states. But the EU as a whole is clear that the future of Kosovo is European."
The EU had committed important resources in Kosovo, Ashton said.
"In turn, Kosovo authorities need to do a lot more to deliver on their commitments and improve the lives of all their people. The EU will be present, helping, advising and monitoring.
"And we look forward to the day that Kosovo and Serbia will have solved their differences," Ashton said.
Later in 2010, the International Court of Justice is expected to pronounce its opinion – which will not be legally binding – on whether the Kosovo declaration of independence was legitimate.
As Kosovo celebrated February 17, the day on which the unilateral declaration of independence was adopted in Pristina, 65 countries had recognised Kosovo, significantly including the United States and all but five European Union states, but most UN member states, including Serbia’s backers Russia and China, reject Kosovo’s independence.
Interviewed by leading Kosovo daily Koha Ditore before a visit to Pristina, Ashton said that the Western Balkans, Kosovo included, was a very important priority in EU foreign policy and a personal priority for her.
Kosovo, Ashton said, faced major challenges including unemployment, corruption, crime and other socio-economic problems.
In a speech in Belgrade on February 18 2010, Ashton touched on the standoff over Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia two years ago: "We understand that Kosovo remains an important issue for Serbia," she said.
"However, different views on the status of Kosovo should not prevent us from moving forward in solving practical issues.
"In particular, regional co-operation must move forward. Kosovo must be enabled in a pragmatic way to participate in regional cooperation initiatives," Ashton said.
Kosovo was an integral part of the EU 's Western Balkans strategy, she said.
"The EU may have left the status issue to individual member states. But the EU as a whole is clear that the future of Kosovo is European."
The EU had committed important resources in Kosovo, Ashton said.
"In turn, Kosovo authorities need to do a lot more to deliver on their commitments and improve the lives of all their people. The EU will be present, helping, advising and monitoring.
"And we look forward to the day that Kosovo and Serbia will have solved their differences," Ashton said.
Later in 2010, the International Court of Justice is expected to pronounce its opinion – which will not be legally binding – on whether the Kosovo declaration of independence was legitimate.
As Kosovo celebrated February 17, the day on which the unilateral declaration of independence was adopted in Pristina, 65 countries had recognised Kosovo, significantly including the United States and all but five European Union states, but most UN member states, including Serbia’s backers Russia and China, reject Kosovo’s independence.
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This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
Fortunately peggy you are a tool to your own self. :D
I was just pointing out your retarded rhetoric(lol green muslim streets), i dont care who you are or what you do, i care about the massage. and Sarajevo does not fit in this topic. If Bosnians dont have a problem with that why should you?
It is so nice to watch all the Western Europe take a piss at retarded Serb ethnic nationalists.
Every day another lie gets broken and another myth is busted.
But [...]
Read the full comment i am satisfied with the process, the NKosovo will be integrated soon, so all the leftover scum of the 90s wars will be unemployed in Belgrade, maybe they can burn more stuff there.
As Mr. Nikolic of Strepce says: "I have the mandate to run Strpce because 4,335 people voted for me in November compared to 1,270 votes Mihajlovic got in the May polls," Nikolic told AFP.
So all the retard Serb ethnic nationalists can f off the beautiful Kosovo.
Troy, you still haven't explained why there are virtually no Christians left in Sarajevo?
Go on, insult me all you want because that's the only weapon you have, but I have the truth.
Now, I ask you once more. What happened to the Christians of Sarajevo?
mickovic, that was one of the most pathetic comments in a long time from a serb ethnic nationalist
you stated:
Kosovo(a) is(=) a fake and failed state.(b)
Kosovo(a) is(=) Serbia.(c)
wich equals to Servia is a fake and failed state lol
go get some basic education on rhetorics before you put your nose in other peoples countrys.
And peggy, you also are a great retard at producing good comments,
so according to you painting the footpaths green is [...]
Read the full comment islamic?
Retatded serv ethnic nationalist like you seam to call for revenge from the hundreds of years ago, but all you lot are brainwashed scum, remember that, all your ethnic nationalism has brought servia to temporary knees.
Continue though, i love your style and humiliation :D
so what about the green partys of every country, the green revolution? is that all islam orientated too?
Exactly like the nazzis the serb war criminals are still on the run from justice, and yes Serbi has committed the greatest genocide in Europe since ww2.
There was not a single foreign soldier that stepped into serbia, it was all serv butchers who went to Slovenia Bosnia Croatia and Kosovo.
Western Hypocrisy... What a joke everybody knows Kosovo is a fake and failed state. NATOLAND! Kosovo is Serbia.
Anonymous troy Sun, Feb 21 2010 09:08 CET
"Byblos, there is a big difference.
In Bosnia the only reason Serbs got their RS is through the greatest genocide since the Nazis"
===========================
Really? So then explain to me how come Sarajevo is cleansed of almost all Christians and has become a Muslims city?
They are even painting some foot paths green (colour of Islam) and have beaten up a Serbian priest who is there for a handfull of Serbs [...]
Read the full comment left.
What do you call that? I call it ethic cleansing and thanks to scum like Oric genocide. Well, since you throw that word around like it is going out of fashion, we call call what has happened in certain parts of Bosnia genocide on Serbs as well.
Byblos, there is a big difference.
In Bosnia the only reason Serbs got their RS is through the greatest genocide since the Nazis.
The Serbs tried to copy that method of carving out other country's for their pathetic greater Serbia, in Slovenia, Croatia and Kosovo.
Just because they got away in Bosnia it does not make it anywhere a Serb territory.
As for Serbia agreeing to Kosovos independence, you should know about history and how spineless the Serb leadership is. The last person to mention that in a way of [...]
Read the full comment partition was PM Djindic and he got a bullet to the head and the killers are still roaming the criminal streets of Belgrade.
That sad pathetic scum of Serbia have set a precedent that you mention Kosova* and you die.
Braiwashed and pathetic people when you think about it.
But than again they did this for Ceoatias and Slovenias independence too. hehehe
short memory from our resident Serb ethnic nationalists
But than again nobody could give a rats ass about Serbia. :D
Macedonia,Montenegro,Croatia and Slovenia all the yugo members know the truth and that's all that matters.
And ps: please if you have any leads or evidence about Thaci, Ceku and co. present it at your nearest interpol. :)
But let it not be some weird fake Serb propaganda, because it makes a lot of nations chuckle.
I advise you sir to look inside your own backward yard to find the war criminals that are still hiding like spineless "hero's".
There is real evidence against them.
You hit the nail on the head Oz! Ashton goes to Serbia to promote Kosovo, whilst in Bosnia she goes on about territorial integrity! How does this work?
As far as i am aware Tim, Kosovo will never be legitimately independant until Serbia itself agrees, which will ever be.
As for Kosovo being European...this can only be as part of Serbia.
If the EU wanted this part of the Balkans to be prosperous and stable
they would have given Serbia the aid to make a more [...]
Read the full comment harmonious situation between its ethnicities.
First of all they (EU) give Kosovo the support for independance and then they go on rambling about Kosovo's crime, unemployment, corruption and socio-economic problems.
How about they support its territorial integrity with Serbia and help Serbia with making it a better place.
Serbia had known far before the Wests interference that the province was full of organised crime and corruption by ethnic Albanians. The support for the independance is just allowing the province (now supposed state) to be more free in its corruption and crime endevours.
Even more alarming is that Hashim Thaçi, Prime Minister of Kosovo is one of the notorious crime leaders of the past 20 years.
Kosovo and Serbia have to work together to join EU. That Gap has to be closed.
Serbia can't cry for kosovo anymore because that's gone.
Thanks
"solve their differences..." but only to their standards...
Ashton goes to Serbia to promote Kosovo, whilst in Bosnia she goes on about territorial integrity! what the??