LUXEMBOURG: European Union foreign ministers arrive in Luxembourg to discuss potential easing of sanctions in Syria and Serbia-Kosovo historical deal implications

Record ID: 376765

  • Title: LUXEMBOURG: European Union foreign ministers arrive in Luxembourg to discuss potential easing of sanctions in Syria and Serbia-Kosovo historical deal implications
  • Date: 22nd April 2013
  • Summary: LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG (APRIL 22, 2013) (REUTERS) COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION BUILDING MEMBER STATES FLAGS OUTSIDE OF BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 7th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Luxembourg
  • Country: Luxembourg
  • Topics: International Relations,Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2A2NAHRM6S4OULDMIFCJV6XGO
  • Story Text: European Union foreign ministers arrived in Luxembourg on Monday (April 22) to discuss a potential easing of sanctions in Syria and implications of the Serbia-Kosovo agreement with regards to EU membership talks for Belgrade and an association agreement for Pristina.
    Serbia and its former province of Kosovo struck an historic deal on Friday to settle their fraught relations and which aims to end ethnic partition.
    Croatian Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusic said it was a milestone for the region's recovery after the collapse of Yugoslavia.

    "I take this opportunity to congratulate Serbia and Kosovo and Lady Ashton on the achieved agreement and I think that is very important for the whole region and not only for Serbia and Kosovo. This was exceptionally important for their stability but for the region it is a historical moment, and very important for the future and stability of all of us," Pusic told reporters.
    The pact tackles the ethnic partition of Kosovo between its Albanian majority and a small Belgrade-backed pocket of some 50,000 Serbs in the north, a schism that has dogged regional stability since Kosovo seceded from Serbia in 2008.
    Under the agreement, the north of Kosovo will be absorbed into the legal framework of the country but retain limited autonomy in areas of health, education, policing and courts.
    German Foreign Affairs Minister Guido Westerwelle said he hoped the deal was put into effect.

    "We wish for what has been agreed between Serbia and Kosovo to be implemented. That is very important from our side. I want to honour the successful engagement of Catherine Ashton, who has represented Europe very well in the negotiations from our point of view," he said.
    The agreement is likely to open the door to greater international integration of the young state, the last to emerge from the ashes of federal Yugoslavia.

    "What will happen here, I expect that we will move to discuss when accession discussions can start with Serbia and when discussions can start on an association agreement for Kosovo. That of course is on the issue of the enlargement," Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, Eamon Gilmore said upon arrival.
    Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs and Frans Timmermans joined his counterparts in applauding EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton for brokering the deal.

    "Well I want to congratulate both parties, and Cathy Ashton, for a job well done. I think this is a historic agreement, it's another very important step towards lasting peace and stability in the Balkans. And, let's asses it," Timmermans said.
    Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn added that the deal was a good start and that bringing the sides together to a negotiation table was crucial to the region's stability.

    "I'm not convinced that all problems have been solved yet, but it's a good start, so to say, in the perspective of 2020 and even beyond. But the fact that we are together to see how can we effectively bring together Serbians and Kosovars, that's the key to the stabilization of the Balkans," he said.
    The bloc's foreign ministers are also expected to discuss a potential easing of sanctions against Syria.

    "We will decide on a partial lifting of sanctions, that means that the opposition will be supported more in economic terms, also regarding oil exports. We want regions controlled by the opposition to develop well economically. That's why sanctions which make the work of the moderate opposition more difficult will be lifted," German's Westerwelle said.
    The rebels have gained control over some of Syria's oil-producing territory, including in the eastern provinces of Hasakah and Deir al-Zor, although these areas remain vulnerable to shelling and air strikes by government forces.
    Oil sales could give the rebels much-needed cash for infrastructure repairs and to build up local governance, and, possibly, to fund purchases of arms.
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