Spain FM: Summit in Sarajevo to Gather All Parties

In a statement, Moratinos said that the Sarajevo summit, planned for May or June, is set to bring together all parties, "with appreciation for international law and all sensitive issues".

“We will find a way to prepare this conference at a high level and I believe that we will be able to gather all sides, addressing important questions and being guided by international law,” Moratinos said, adding that the exact date of the summit would be announced shortly.

The last such gathering of leaders of Western Balkan countries, which was set to be the first meeting of all the political leaders in the region in 18 years, was overshadowed by the absence of Serbian President Boris Tadic and some invitees from Brussels and Madrid, including representatives of the Spanish EU Presidency.  Spain is one of the five EU member states that have not recognised Kosovo.

However, the summit, held last Saturday in Slovenia, ended with a joint declaration of the regional leaders affirming their commitment to membership in the EU. Serbian media and some Bosnian officials dubbed it a debacle, while others from the Balkans called it a "moderate" success.

Serbia's Tadic refused to participate in the summit due to a dispute over the manner in which the Kosovo delegation was to be represented. Serbia asked that Kosovo be represented under the banner of Kosovo-UNMIK, while Pristina officials said that they would participate as representatives of a 'sovereign country'.

According to Moratinos, the adopted declaration “clearly shows that all the participants, us as well, give their support to the meeting that the Spanish presidency will call [in May or June]."

Commenting on the absences at the Slovenia gathering, Moratinos said that “this does not mean that the meeting was not fruitful and that there was not a good exchange of opinions, good proposals and initiatives.”

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt also commented on Serbia's absence at the Slovenia summit, saying that it was a loss not only for Serbia but for the entire region.

"With Serbia's absence, everyone has lost in a certain sense. Serbia has lost something, but the loss is for the region as a whole. Serbia is a big player. It is the largest country in the region," Deutsche Welle quoted Bildt as saying.

He thus called on European Union to ensure the presence of all the Western Balkan countries at the conference in Sarajevo, so that concrete results can be achieved.

For more information, please see Balkan Insight's analysis: Serbia Boycott of Slovene Summit Angers Pro-Europeans