Serbia must solve issue with Kosovo if it wants to enter EU, says Austria's Kurz.
Record ID:
1363197
Serbia must solve issue with Kosovo if it wants to enter EU, says Austria's Kurz.
- Title: Serbia must solve issue with Kosovo if it wants to enter EU, says Austria's Kurz.
- Date: 5th November 2018
- Summary: BELGRADE, SERBIA (NOVEMBER 5, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PRESIDENTIAL PALACE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE WINDOWS PAN FROM MEDIA ONTO AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR SEBASTIAN KURZ AND SERBIAN PRESIDENT ALEKSANDAR VUCIC SEATED FOR MEETING VUCIC / KURZ KURZ AND VUCIC SEATED KURZ AND VUCIC SEATED, TALKING KURZ AND VUCIC ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE KURZ AND VUCIC STANDING AT SPEAKER PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (German) AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR, SEBASTIAN KURZ, SAYING: "I would like to say something about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. I think it is of utmost importance that this dialogue not only continues but that it concludes successfully. We have a unique opportunity now do leave the history to history and that we move forward into a successful future. People in Serbia have to understand that Serbia can enter the European Union only if Belgrade and Pristina find a solution. That is the key condition for Serbia to join the European Union." KURZ AND VUCIC STANDING AT PODIUM SOUNDBITE (Serbian) SERBIAN PRESIDENT, ALEKSANDAR VUCIC, SAYING: "What is important for us in Serbia is that Serbia cannot and should not be humiliated and that one side, the Albanian side cannot get everything and the Serbian side nothing. Those who are prepared to take that into account and who are prepared to look for such solutions will always have a partner here in Belgrade." KURZ AND VUCIC AT PODIUM SOUNDBITE (Serbian) SERBIAN PRESIDENT ALEKSANDAR VUCIC, SAYING "The key is whether we are close to some solution or not, and we are not - we are miles away from any solution. And that solution has to be found between the Serbs and the Albanians. And I would like to ask all those who are saying that we might open some kind of Pandora's box now - why did you recognize independent Kosovo and opened this Pandora's Box in 2008? KURZ AND VUCIC SHAKING HANDS AND WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 19th November 2018 17:48
- Keywords: Sebastian Kurz Aleksandar Vucic President of Serbia Chancellor of Austria Serbia-Kosovo relations European Union EU enlargement Western Balkans
- Location: BELGRADE, SERBIA
- City: BELGRADE, SERBIA
- Country: Serbia
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001958B5FD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Austria supports Serbia's efforts to join the European Union but that will only happen if Belgrade and Pristina solve their issues, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a news conference after meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.
"People in Serbia have to understand that Serbia can enter the European Union only if Belgrade and Pristina find a solution. That is the key condition for Serbia to join the European Union", Kurz said.
"The key is whether we are close to some solution or not, and we are not - we are miles from any solution", Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in response adding that the solution has to be found between the Serbs and the Albanians.
Belgrade and Pristina both raised the idea of redrawing their border two months ago as a possible solution to resolve the conflict between the two countries, almost 20 years after a bombing campaign by NATO halted killings of ethnic Albanians in a two-year counter-insurgency war. Kosovo then declared independence in 2008, backed by the United States and most EU countries.
The agreement would allow Serbia to maintain control over northern Kosovo in exchange for an ethnic Albanian-populated area in southern Serbia. The idea was sharply criticised by Germany and several other influential EU states who said the land swap could destabilise the whole region and "open a Pandora's box".
"I would like to ask all those who are saying that we might open some kind of Pandora's box now - why did you recognize independent Kosovo and opened this Pandora's box in 2008?", Vucic told a news conference on Monday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None