MUNICH (Reuters) - Serbian President Boris Tadic warned the European Union on Friday against “cutting corners” on Kosovo, urging further dialogue on the future of the province which is set to declare its independence from Belgrade.
Tadic, speaking at a security conference in the southern German city of Munich, said he could not accept a “dismembering” of Serbia and said Belgrade, Pristina and the international community had to solve the Kosovo question together.
“Should Serbia be partitioned against its will… it could in turn result in the escalation of many existing conflicts, the reactivation of a number of frozen conflicts, and the instigation of who knows how many new conflicts,” said Mr Tadic.
“There is still time to prevent the situation from spiralling needlessly out of control,” he told the gathering of the world’s top security officials, urging international talks.
The United States and most of the 27-member European Union back self-determination for Kosovo and its 90-percent ethnic Albanian majority. However, Russia, allied with Serbia against Kosovo’s secession, has blocked an independence resolution in the U.N. Security Council.
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said earlier on Friday that about 100 countries were ready to recognise the province’s independence, which political sources say could be declared on Feb 17.
The European Union plans to take over supervision of Kosovo from the United Nations, which has administered the territory since NATO expelled Serbian forces in 1999.
EU foreign ministers will meet on Feb 18 and are expected to formally authorise the dispatch of a police and judicial mission.
Tadic has said the EU mission lacks a legal basis and should be approved by the United Nations Security Council.
“We welcome as a matter of principle any demonstration of Europe’s deepening commitment to the western Balkans. And for that reason, we welcome the desire to increase its presence in our southern province of Kosovo,” he said.
“But at the same time we must all be very careful about cutting corners. I say to you that we must remain vigilant of the dangers of expediency and take seriously the strategic priorities we all share,” he said.
Tadic urged the international community to seek the legitimacy of the Security Council, saying the alternative would be a “dangerous leap into the dark unknown.”
“At a time of great global turbulence, the precedent that would be established should Serbia be partitioned against its will…could in turn result in the escalation of many existing conflicts, the reactivation of a number of frozen conflicts and the instigation of who knows how many new conflicts,” he said.
(Reporting by Kerstin Gehmlich)
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The “Fourth Reich” of Europe is set to make upresidented moves towards violence and possible attempt ot succeed Kosovo from Serbia, recently 07 February 08′Secretary of Defense, Robert M. Gates attended the Nato Defense Ministers Informal meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania (where Eisatzgruppen SS death squads were the most lethal against Jews of Russia)as well then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates attends a 44th annual Nato Security meeting in Munich, Germany. The Nato Command structures are and remain vast and expansive as well EU/United Nations working together relentlessly for global control for coming dictatorship…Kosovo, next America?
Comment by Michael — February 11, 2008 #
Wasn’t this meeting in Munich this weekend the same one attended by “frontrunner” John McCain? We know he was lobbying for his KLA friends(not “laying low” as the media here reported).RON PAUL for PRESIDENT!
Comment by Kingsley — February 11, 2008 #
With adoption of new democratic laws ,like we have used to seperate Kosovo from Serbia . Could not we renegotiate just who owns the mideast oil feilds . And even take controle of the land and country . I know in america the fedral Goverment claims controle of all the water . Except of course the mississipi river , thats under the controle of the united nations . Americians should have as much right as Albanians or illeagal imigrants .
If the western countries just took their oil from the oil producers . This would solve a lot of problems . Surley you understand thats what they would do to you .
Instead of the west trying to impose western culture on islamics , We should impose Islamic culture on them . Extra taxes for the privilage of being a muslim . Drive all palestinians into the sea , death to anyone trying to convert others to be muslim . I onetime thought there were certian rules and princables that governed mans dealings with others . These rules and princables do not aply to common criminals and normal goverments . Here the only rule is if you got the power to take it ,take it .
Comment by eric — February 12, 2008 #