[NYTr] Serbia "Threatens" [or Warns] EU over Kosovo

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

al Jazeera - Dec 25, 2007
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3CE8E9DD-9E32-4C32-AF04-2CE8BE2619F2.htm


Serbia threatens EU over Kosovo

Serbia is threatening to halt its integration into the European Union
if the West recognises the independence of its breakaway province of
Kosovo.

According to a draft of a resolution due to be debated in the
parliament on Wednesday, Serbia will also consider the possibility of
severing diplomatic ties with the United States and EU countries.

Serbia will "particularly reconsider diplomatic and all other relations
with the states that possibly recognise the independence of Kosovo,"
the resolution proposes.

It was agreed on Tuesday as a compromise between pro-European
Democratic Party and nationalist Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).

"All international accords Serbia concludes, including the
Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), must be in a function of
respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country," read
the draft, a copy of which was obtained by AFP news agency on Tuesday.

A number of EU countries have indicated they will recognise a
unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence by the ethnic Albanian
majority in the province, following failed negotiations on its status
between Pristina and Belgrade.

In November, Serbia initialled the SAA, considered the first step
towards integration into the EU.

Brussels has indicated it could sign the agreement with Belgrade next
month and may accelerate Serbia's European integration in order to
avoid ultra-nationalists benefitting Kosovo's possible independence at
the January 20 presidential elections.

Civil mission

The draft also rejects an EU plan to send a civil mission to Kosovo,
replacing the United Nations' one that has been administering the
province since the end of 1998-1999 conflict between Serbian forces and
ethnic Albanian separatists.

"The deployment of such mission represents a prejudice of sovereignty,
territorial integrity and constitutional order of Serbia," read the
draft, adding that the European mission could not be accepted until it
is decided by the UN Security Council.

The Security Council failed last week to find a solution on Kosovo
status due to Russia's staunch support of Serbia's opposition to the
province's independence. Therefore the most influential Western
countries decided to transfer the issue to the EU and Nato.

Source: Agencies