Austrian news agency: EU confirms non-paper for border change in Balkans

The EU Council does not want to publish this document, because its public release could exacerbate interstate relations.

The Austrian news agency APA has received confirmation from the European Union Council on the existence of a document related to the Slovenian no-paper, which has spoken, among other things, of changing borders in the Balkans.

Despite this, the EU Council has said this document was not published because it would jeopardise interstate relations, the Bosnian daily “Oslobodjenje” reported.

The APA has asked the EC to disclose all documents that could be linked to the Slovenian-controversial no-perception, but from the EU Council they have “identified” only a document of this type, which meets the alleged “cliter”.

This message, the EC posted its website on Thursday evening, wrote Slovenian portal “24ur”.

After reviewing the case, the EC has decided to keep the document a secret because of the possible risk of public interests, which would follow after its possible publication.

The Slovenian Non-Paper, which was published by mid-April, had troubled the region, meanwhile, the topic has been the focus of attention on all affected states.

Officials in countries of the region have all but denied the existence of such a kind of document, though some leaders, as Albania's prime minister, Edi Rama, have confirmed the existence of such a document.

What was said in a border - change plan?

After reporting on “non-paperin” of Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansha to European Council President Charles Michel, who committed himself to new border drawings in the Western Balkans, the Slovenian medium “neczurirano.si” had published the documents in question. There were three main points for the resolution of “The way forward for the Western Balkans”.

At first point it's been talked about the current situation. It says that the national issue of Serbs, Albanians and Croats is not resolved and that “is based on the existing methods and pace of resolving the problem, it is difficult to imagine a European perspective for Serbia and Kosovo of full-fledged EU membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

At the second point, the ideas for “resolving the problem” are highlighted.

It all starts with the unification of Kosovo and Albania, according to the document in question. In Kosovo, 95 percent of the population wants unity with the nation of origin. The situation is similar in Albania. The border between Albania and Kosovo, de facto, does not exist. The Kosovo Serb part of Kosovo is guaranteed a special status (if South Tyrol model)”, says at “a” “selection”.

Later, joining Republika Srpska's territory with Serbia is required. The Serbian nation's “question would be largely resolved if a large part of Republika Srpska joins Serbia. In this case, Serbia would be hired for joining Kosovo with Albania”.

For Croats, the union of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Croat cantons has been proposed with Croatia and ensuring a special status of the Croatian part in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the same Kosovo model.

Bosniaks would ensure the functioning of the independent state and full responsibility for it. The issue of a referendum on people has also been cited to choose between the EU and a future outside the EU (like Turkey).

For the EU, it has been proposed to launch implementation of an overall economic programme for stabilisation, better infrastructure and energy for the region.

The steps to be followed, according to the controversial document, are in “silent procedure” with regional leaders. The co-ordination of positions with international leaders is also mentioned.

It provides the need for an overall communication programme to present the plan in public, taking into account the positions in certain parts of the region.

If the plan agrees with the EU, the United States and most regional leaders, the plan should be initiated and formalised by the EU, always according to the document.