EU Foreign Ministers discuss Serbia and Kosovo

http://www.eux.tv/ Brussels, 10 March 2008 At the end of the European Council of General Affairs and External Relations, EU ministers reiterated that Europe wants to keep Serbia on its European track and urged Belgrade to shun isolationism and keep their country on course for membership of the European Union. Commissioner in charge of Enlargement, Olli Rehn, said that "Serbia has a crucial choice to make: it can either turn to the European Union or risk self-imposed isolation". In relations with Kosovo, EU Ministers said that the European Union want the UNMIK (the UN mission) in place on the border between Serbia and Kosovo. But they recognised that the deployment of the European Union mission is taken more time than presupposed. Mideast was also on the agenda. EU High Representative, Javier Solana, explained that even if the situation is not easy, the EU will do everything to move forward the peace process. But he deplore the Israeli's statement on settlements. Finally, EU ministers asked Croatia to fulfill its obligations on relations with ecological and fisheries protection. Dimitrij Rupel, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and President-in-office of the Council: We are of one view that we need to keep Serbia on its European track. But what is perhaps more important is that we want the UNMIK, the UN mission, in place on the border between Serbia and Kosovo. 00:00:50 Cutaway journalists attending the press conference 00:00:58 SOUNDBITE (English) Javier Solana, EU High Representative: I would like to say that the latest statement by the Israeli government as far as settlements is concern, we would like to say that we deplore that statement. We think that the reaction to whatever has happened in the ground in the last period of time is nothing that can put in jeopardy the peace process. And as you know the question of settlements is part of the road map and we would like not to see that. That is a very important issue for us. 00:01:26 Cutaway 00:01:32 SOUNDBITE (English) Olli Rehn, EC Member in charge of Enlargement: The European Union is committed to Serbia's European future and now Serbia has a crucial choice to make: it can either turn to the European Union or risk self-imposed isolation. The first option will take Serbia towards stability, stronger freedoms and increasing prosperity.... The other option, to my mind, is a road to nowhere. 00:02:11 Cutaway 00:02:16 SOUNDBITE (English) Dimitrij Rupel: We cannot be sure what the Croatian Parliament will decide, but certainly as you know, it is a matter that concerns credibility of our Croatian friends and the Croatian government and the Croatian Parliament. Croatia has signed an agreement regarding implementation of the ecological and fisheries protection and they are obliged to fulfill what they have promised. 00:02:52 Cutaway 00:02:59 SOUNDBITE (English) Dimitrij Rupel: We have, as you know, in the past, presupposed that in due time UNMIK would be replaced by the European mission. But this will take some time and the transition will take some effort. At the moment, of course, we have supported the idea that UNMIK continues to work at the border between Serbia and Kosovo. 00:03:40

» View the original video «

YouTube | March 10, 2008