EU 'will recognise Kosovo'

2008-02-18 14:39

Brussels - Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, said on Monday he understood that "many EU member states" would recognise Kosovo's independence.

"I understand that many EU member states will recognise" Kosovo's independence, he said as he arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, adding that there was likely to be "a lively discussion".

"Recognition is not a matter for the EU as a whole. It's member states who will decide," he added.

Major EU nations Britain, France, Germany and Italy were expected to swiftly endorse Kosovo's declaration on Sunday to split from Serbia, and will be hoping to persuade as many fellow nations as possible to do likewise, according to diplomatic sources.

However, several other member states are more reluctant, notably Spain and Cyprus which have their own territorial integrity issues to deal with.

"I cannot tell you what we shall conclude at the end but certainly I expect that we shall continue with this tradition of unity that we have established" with the creation of a new EU justice mission to Kosovo, said Rupel.

Degree of recognition

The 2 000-strong EU mission will be fully operational after a 120-day transition period and will essentially train and mentor police, judges and customs officials.

The task then for the 27 EU foreign ministers is to come up with a joint declaration which everyone can put their name to, diplomats said.

"The issue at the core is the degree of recognition that can be made," a diplomatic source said.

Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, arriving for the meeting, said he hoped a "common platform" could be found "so that we can have a common position towards Kosovo and also Serbia".

"It's very important that Serbia knows that it's not going to be a part of Russia, that it is going to be a part of Europe," he told reporters.

Most of the foreign ministers spoke cautiously as they arrived for the meeting, stressing the need to discuss the issue together while acknowledging that recognition of Kosovo remained a national competence.

"Recognition is a word which we will perhaps use this evening," after the meeting, said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.

Recognition "is indeed in the competencies of the European Union member states", said European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, also attending the talks.

Ensuring stability

"The European Union will not take a decision as such but it will of course hold a responsible debate on the matter today. Then it will be up to the individual EU member states to decide on the matter of recognition."

The ministers also stressed the need for calm in Kosovo, the angered Serbia and the region as a whole.

"I would like to call on Kosovars and Serbians to show restraint and respect all minorities who live in Kosovo, the first thing we must ensure is the stability in the Balkans," said Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen.

- AFP