EU inequities about dialogue: Foreign ministers discuss Kosovo, Serbia

European Union foreign ministers will discuss the Council of Foreign Affairs meeting on the situation in the Western Balkans and reports with the United States. According to sources in the EU, this will be an opportunity to reiterate commitment to the Western Balkans, but also to strengthen the commitment to realising the region's European perspective.

The continuation of dialogue on normalisation of reports between Kosovo and Serbia and internal political clashes in Bosnia and Herzegovina are issues which have mostly attracted the attention of the EU and are expected to be discussed today (May 10th) most. As for the EU enlargement process, this topic will be in order day on Tuesday when the Council of General Affairs meets, as well as at the level of ministers.

Diplomatic sources in the EU have indicated that now, as there is a government in both Kosovo and Serbia with clear mandate and support of the electorate, an opportunity to reach agreement on normalising reports within the dialogue, which the European Union facilitates.

But, in the EU, acknowledge there is still uncertainty as to continuing dialogue. An EU attempt to organise a meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, on May 11th, had failed because the Kosovo side had not confirmed this meeting and said it needed time to prepare better for continuing dialogue.

The EU foreign ministers' meeting for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue is expected except for the high representative for foreign policy and security Josep Borrell to speak also to special envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak.

As for the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the high representative, Borrell, has expressed concern about increasing the stimulating language and straining the situation, especially after rumours that there could be a change of borders. He has invited such border change discussions and war to end and political leaders to engage in reforms that will bring the state closer to the European Union.

“Retorica, which questions Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity, must be stopped. The debates on recession, new boundaries, further division on ethnic lines and war, are dangerous and unacceptable”, Borrell wrote in a communique issued on the eve of today's discussion of European Union foreign ministers.

In the EU, optimism has been expressed that with the new US administration, there can be greater co-operation even in the realisation of the joint agenda in the Western Balkan region. / REL/