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Post by engers on Jan 2, 2008 10:12:57 GMT -5
Austrian chancellor says EU must solve Kosovo -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 2008 | 13:12 | Source: B92, AFP VIENNA -- The EU must solve the status of Kosovo if it is to enhance its credibility abroad, the Austrian chancellor says.
In an interview published Wednesday Alfred Gusenbauer told the Austria Press Agency that the 27-member bloc must show it can "solve problems at home in Europe,", describing Kosovo as the "last big unsolved issue of the 20th century."
EU leaders have already agreed "to see the final solution on the issue of Kosovo's status and following consequences as a European challenge," he noted.
"We will not sit in the first rows and look at what others are doing," Gusenbauer said about Vienna's reaction to a unilateral declaration of the province's independence.
He added that Austria will "certainly be among those who will have a clear attitude on the issue and who will show the way forward."
Gusenbauer also called on Priština and Belgrade to act responsibly to avoid violence in the coming weeks when Kosovo is expected to declare independence unilaterally, and to cooperate with the EU to find a solution on the province's status.
Protection for the Serbs in the majority ethnic-Albanian province was now a key issue, he said.
The Austrian chancellor also argued that to condition a yet-to-be-signed Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Serbia, considered the first step towards its integration into the bloc, on Belgrade's delivery of war crimes suspects wanted by the Hague Tribunal was "not fair."
One can "not expect Belgrade to deliver a concrete result if it can't be delivered," he said. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ftp]http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=01&dd=02&nav_id=46628[/ftp]
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Post by tripwire on Jan 2, 2008 23:10:09 GMT -5
Austrian chancellor says EU must solve Kosovo We will not sit in the first rows and look at what others are doing," Gusenbauer said about Vienna's reaction to a unilateral declaration of the province's independence. He added that Austria will "certainly be among those who will have a clear attitude on the issue and who will show the way forward . The Austrian chancellor also argued that to condition a yet-to-be-signed Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Serbia, considered the first step towards its integration into the bloc, on Belgrade's delivery of war crimes suspects wanted by the Hague Tribunal was "not fair." One can "not expect Belgrade to deliver a concrete result if it can't be delivered," he said. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ftp]http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=01&dd=02&nav_id=46628[/ftp] Sweet...look what the serbs did... Serbia sends "strongly worded demarche" to Austria 2 January 2008 | 13:12 -> 21:18 | Source: B92, AFP, Tanjug BELGRADE, VIENNA -- Official Belgrade reacted Wednesday afternoon to the Austrian chancellor's Kosovo comments. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremiæ handed what is described as "a strongly worded demarche," following Alfred Gusenbauer's statement that his country will be among those to lead the way in reaction to possible declaration of unilateral independence by the Kosovo Albanians. "The Republic of Serbia strongly opposes such statements and considers that the process of negotiations on the future status of Kosovo and Metohija should be continued under UN Security Council auspices," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Jeremiæ also highlighted the importance of preserving Serbia's territorial integrity, and underlined that such statements greatly damage bilateral relations between Austria and Serbia, the statement said. In an interview published Wednesday Gusenbauer told the Austria Press Agency that the EU must show it can "solve problems at home in Europe,", describing Kosovo as the "last big unsolved issue of the 20th century." EU leaders have already agreed "to see the final solution on the issue of Kosovo's status and following consequences as a European challenge," he noted. "We will not sit in the first rows and look at what others are doing," Gusenbauer said about Vienna's reaction to a unilateral declaration of the province's independence. He added that Austria will "certainly be among those who will have a clear attitude on the issue and who will show the way forward." Gusenbauer also called on Priština and Belgrade to act responsibly to avoid violence in the coming weeks when Kosovo is expected to declare independence unilaterally, and to cooperate with the EU to find a solution on the province's status. Protection for the Serbs in the majority ethnic-Albanian province was now a key issue, he said. The Austrian chancellor also argued that to condition a yet-to-be-signed Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Serbia, considered the first step towards its integration into the bloc, on Belgrade's delivery of war crimes suspects wanted by the Hague Tribunal was "not fair." "One can not expect Belgrade to deliver a concrete result if it can't be delivered," he said. No initiatives taken by serb leaders, just more whining and whimpering...
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Post by engers on Jan 3, 2008 2:55:13 GMT -5
Austria and Belgium among first to recognize Kosovo independenceEU is still trying to find a stance that would unite all member countries when Kosovo status is concerned. However, that has not prevented Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer to announce yesterday that Austria would be among the first to recognize Kosovo independence. ‘We shall not sit in the first row watching what others are doing’, he said announcing that Austria would be for sure among the first having the clear stance on the issue and showing the right direction to be taken. He appealed to Serbian and Kosovo leaderships to cooperate with EU and restrain from provocation. Europe wants to act united ‘in the settlement of the last big unsolved issue of the 20th century’, he said. Belgian provisional government shall have the capacity to recognize Kosovo independence, Karel de Guht, that country’s Foreign Minister said today during visit to Mitrovica where Belgian KFOR soldiers are stationed. He supported ‘coordinated statement’ by EU-27 on recognition of Kosovo independence. As France Press reports, about 20 EU countries are ready to recognize Kosovo independence under international supervision as envisaged by Martti Ahtisaari’s plan. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon recently said that further delay in settlement of Kosovo status ‘might cause instability in the region’. At the same time, however, he expressed certain discomfort over possibility that the whole process is continued outside the UN SC format. The new report to UN Secretary General by his special envoy to Kosovo Joakkim Ruecker shall be debated by the Security Council on January 9. Serbia President Boris Tadic shall attend that meeting. Serbia Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic is of the opinion that Ban Ki-Moon’s statement over instability due to delay in settlement of Kosovo status was wrong. ‘It is rather secession of Kosovo from Serbia that shall cause instability in the region. UN Secretary General should care about respect of the international law and not separatist aspirations by the militant representatives of national minorities’, Samardzic said. [ftp]http://www.blic.co.yu/news.php?id=1334[/ftp]
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Post by Pejoni on Jan 4, 2008 12:33:15 GMT -5
Im telling you guys, we are this close become to Independent and no one will have the power to stop the process not even the commie state Russia this time. The rightful owners are FINALLY getting back the land stolen back in 1913...
Rrnoft Shqiperia Etnike!
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