EU urges rethink on Greece & Cyprus position on Kosovo

[Ioannis]

EU urges rethink on Cyprus position on Kosovo
By Simon Bahceli

THE EUROPEAN Union yesterday urged Cyprus and Greece to rethink their opposition to Kosovo independence.

The two million ethnic Albanians in the southern Serbian province are expected to declare independence sometime after Serbia's presidential elections later this month.

Though Kosovo is seeking support from most EU countries, some European Union member states have misgivings over the prospect of a declaration of independence.

"There is always hope that things will change," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

"You can understand that most of the EU members would like Cyprus, Greece, maybe some other countries, to assume a position that would enable us to move forward," he said at an informal conference of EU foreign ministers from Mediterranean states in Cyprus.

Cyprus has concerns over the precedent that might be set by a declaration of independence by Kosovo.

"We want to keep the widest possible consensus among the European Union members but we also have to think about national interests," said President Tassos Papadopoulos when asked about the stance of his government on the Kosovo question.

It has followed the line of Russia, a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, which says that room for negotiation between Kosovo and Serbia has not been exhausted.

Cyprus' stance on the Kosovo issue in the EU could be crucial. Diplomats say a simmering defence row between Turkey and Cyprus could endanger European security forces in Kosovo by preventing closer co-operation between the EU and NATO missions.

The EU will soon take over responsibility for policing in Kosovo from the United Nations and had sought tighter cooperation between its 1,600-strong mission and the 16,000 NATO peacekeepers who will remain there.

NATO-member Turkey blocked those plans in protest against a longstanding Cypriot veto of closer defence ties between it and the EU, with which Ankara began entry talks in 2005.

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main...37092&cat_id=1

Greece, Cyprus stance over Kosovo issue might change, says Slovenian FM
11:43 - 18 January 2008
Arriving to a meeting of the EU's Mediterranean member states, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said that while the position of Greece and Cyprus on Kosovo was clear, it might still change. He meanwhile said the meeting of foreign ministers in Nicosia would also discuss "common problems with the sea", Slovene Press Agency reports.

"I expect many things to still happen in the period separating us from the announced events in Kosovo and the election in Serbia and I am hopeful that we will be convincing," Rupel said. "Talks can also be expected to touch on Kosovo, this is however not the platform for making such decision," he meanwhile stressed ahead of the two-day meeting of delegations from nine EU members.

This point was also made by Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozaku Markulis, who also said that her country's position on Kosovo remained unchanged. Cyprus is not favourably disposed to Kosovo's independence, as it believes it could set a dangerous precedent for similar cases in the region.

Rupel announced that Croatia's fisheries zone is also likely to make it onto the agenda of talks in Nicosia. We will also talk about issues related to "common problems with the sea", Rupel said, while not disclosing any details.

Rupel noted that some interesting subjects might come up during tonight's working dinner, as some of the ministers would already leave afterwards.

Reporter.gr

[AzzurroItalia]

Personally, I support Serbia in their bid to keep Kosovo.

It's been a part of their nation for centuries, and just because a couple of Albanian immigrants overwhelm the population, it should be given independence?

Absolutely not, this is territorial integrity at stake here. And allowing Kosovo to gain its independence not only gives cause for another war in the Balkans, but threatens the stability of other nations with ethnic minority issues. It's a domino-effect just waiting to happen.