EU warns Kosovo
The European Union on Monday urged Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci, who claimed victory in weekend elections in the Serbian province, to refrain from unilaterally declaring independence.
Pazartesi, 19 Kasım 2007 11:50
"We are trying to convince the Kosovans not to proceed with a declaration of independence without the support of the international community," said Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.
"With the elections, Thaci, who had a great influence during the war and now in peace time, knows what the score is and that a unilateral declaration of independence would be a very bad thing," Asselbaorn said.
Thaci claimed victory Sunday in Kosovo's elections, and declared that voters had sent the world a message that Kosovo was now ready for independence.
"I see that Thaci made some brave declarations," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, as he arrived for talks between EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
"We understand that, but what Thaci must understand is that there is a difference between being a politician in the opposition and being a prime minister," he told reporters.
While acknowledging that Kosovo was "de facto independent from Serbia" he warned against making it "independent from the international community".
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said formal independence for Kosovo would require proper preparation.
In the election campaign, Thaci of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) promised ethnic Albanians, who comprise 90 percent of Kosovo's two million population, that he would "immediately" move to declare independence if elected.
Serbia is strongly opposed to any form of independence and is only prepared to offer broad autonomy for Kosovo, a southern territory it regards as the cradle of its history, culture and religion.
Unofficial results, compiled by independent poll observer Democracy In Action after around 80 percent of votes had been counted, indicated that Thaci had secured 34 percent of the vote, well ahead of his nearest rival.
Saturday's elections were boycotted by Kosovar Serbs and were marred by a low turnout with only 43 percent of 1.5 million voters casting their ballots.
Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since NATO's 1999 air war ended a months-long conflict that killed an estimated 10,000 Albanians and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Agencies
"With the elections, Thaci, who had a great influence during the war and now in peace time, knows what the score is and that a unilateral declaration of independence would be a very bad thing," Asselbaorn said.
Thaci claimed victory Sunday in Kosovo's elections, and declared that voters had sent the world a message that Kosovo was now ready for independence.
"I see that Thaci made some brave declarations," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, as he arrived for talks between EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
"We understand that, but what Thaci must understand is that there is a difference between being a politician in the opposition and being a prime minister," he told reporters.
While acknowledging that Kosovo was "de facto independent from Serbia" he warned against making it "independent from the international community".
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said formal independence for Kosovo would require proper preparation.
In the election campaign, Thaci of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) promised ethnic Albanians, who comprise 90 percent of Kosovo's two million population, that he would "immediately" move to declare independence if elected.
Serbia is strongly opposed to any form of independence and is only prepared to offer broad autonomy for Kosovo, a southern territory it regards as the cradle of its history, culture and religion.
Unofficial results, compiled by independent poll observer Democracy In Action after around 80 percent of votes had been counted, indicated that Thaci had secured 34 percent of the vote, well ahead of his nearest rival.
Saturday's elections were boycotted by Kosovar Serbs and were marred by a low turnout with only 43 percent of 1.5 million voters casting their ballots.
Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since NATO's 1999 air war ended a months-long conflict that killed an estimated 10,000 Albanians and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Agencies
