ERPKIM Archive | EU calls for progress on Kosovo, EUO, February 22, 2005

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EU calls for progress on Kosovo

EUO

February 22, 2005

22.02.2005 - 09:58 CET | By Honor Mahony

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Union on Monday (22 February) urged Kosovo to take more steps towards meeting a list of UN-set standards calling 2005 a decisive year.

Following talks with the head of the UN mission in Kosovo, Soren Jessen-Petersen, the EU called for further progress.

The Luxembourg foreign minister, Jean Asselbornn, who currently represents the EU, said that 2005 is a "decisive point in Kosovo's future".

He added that if the conditions set out by the UN - which cover democratic institutions, security and the rule of law, freedom of movement, refugee returns and the economy - are met then "the status negotiations will begin".

Kosovo, which was formally part of Serbia-Montenegro, has been under UN administration since 1999 after NATO put a stop to a campaign by the government of then Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic against ethnic Albanians.

Pointing out some of the areas of difficulty, Mr Jessen-Petersen said that while the security has improved "it is still very fragile" and added that the economy is the "single most serious threat".

He also said that if there is positive progress then the status talks could start in September or October - the UN is due to review the situation this summer.

Growing ethnic divide Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn said the "objective is to make the European perspective for Kosovo real and tangible".

However, last week UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said that not enough progress had been made in implementing the standards.

He laid the blame at the door of Kosovo Serbs.

"The continued unwillingness of the Kosovo Serbs to engage in dialogue and support the implementation of the standards has hampered the ability to move forward", Mr Annan said, according to AFP.

Ethnic Albanians account for about 90% of Kosovo's 1.9 million population and want independence for Kosovo. The province's Serbian minority wants Kosovo to remain part of Serbia and Montenegro.

A recently-released report by Mr Jessen-Sorensen warns of a growing ethnic divide between the majority Albanians and minority Serbs.

The EU is set to raise the issue during part of a wider discussion on the Western Balkans with US President George W. Bush on Tuesday.