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Love Hurts

05 February 2010 |

Simon Cottrell It's a shame that the internet is a virtual medium, because there are a lot of people out there that I'd like to express my deep feelings of friendship to, and having spent the last two years here in Serbia, I'd like to do it in a truly Serbian way.


Feith: 'New Beginning' for Mitrovica
05 February 2010 | Lawrence Marzouk

The International Civilian Representative in Kosovo, Pieter Feith, has said the appointment of a team to create a new Serb-majority municipality in the divided city of Mitrovica could herald a 'new beginning'.

Macedonia Committed to EU and NATO Future
08 February 2010 | Sinisa-Jakov Marusic

There is no alternative to Macedonia's EU and NATO future, Macedonian President Georgi Ivanov said Sunday after the completion of the Munich Security Conference.

Bozic et al: First Instance Verdict Confirmed
08 February 2010 |

The Appellate Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirms the first instance verdict, sentencing Mladen Blagojevic to seven years in prison and acquitting Zdravko Bozic, Zoran Zivanovic and Zeljko Zaric of the charges that they committed war crimes in the Srebrenica area.



Doubts Hang over Kosovo's EU Prospects

Brussels | 09 December 2008 |
 
Pristina
Pristina
An EU study on Kosovo's bid to join the bloc is being hampered by the reluctance from member states that have not yet recognised Kosovo's independence, Balkan Insight has learnt.

The 'feasibility study' reviews the position of a country on whether it is ready to take the first steps towards membership of the bloc.

The possibility of starting a 'feasibility study' for Kosovo next year was discussed at the European Union Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels on Monday.

However it emerged after the meeting that the word 'feasibility' has been omitted from the study the bloc will conduct for Kosovo next year, throwing into doubt whether Kosovo can take the first steps towards EU membership.

“The European Council welcomes the intention of the European Commission to present a study in autumn 2009 which will examine the political and socio-economic development in Kosovo,” the conclusions of the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting read.

“Concerning the feasibility study, or 'study', what is essential is that we analyse on the basis of a clear EU mandate, how we will advance in the economic and social development of Kosovo and how the European perspective of Kosovo can materialise in line with the European perspective of the whole region,” Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said after the meeting.

The French presidency of the bloc which drafted and finalised the conclusions of the meeting did not want to explain why the term 'feasibility' had been removed from the official document from the meeting but promised that Kosovo too will have a feasibility study one day.

“Yes we will offer that(feasibility study), too but it will take time,” said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

Sources told Balkan Insight that the removal of the word 'feasibility' came at the insistence of those EU countries that have not recognised Kosovo, who argue that 'feasibility study' refers to states.

Those countries argue that every definition that refers to Kosovo's ‘statehood’ is not acceptable, sources said.

Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus, are reluctant to recognise Kosovo which unilaterally declared independence on February 17 this year.

The most outspoken country from this group is Spain which allegedly always objects to any EU or NATO initiative on Kosovo, which refers to it as a state.



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Comments:
Kosovo is falling down.
2008-12-09 17:02:07
Kosovo and EU? Come on someone must be kidding. Kosovo can't supply water, power or basic medical treatment to its citizens. It is very likely that its leaders are or at least once were connected with organized crime. What's daily stuff in german papers keeps on beeing unmentioned Kosovo media. Dear BIRN, do you dare to investigate or quote the german secret service report on Thaci or Haradinaj?

Spain Recognition.
2008-12-09 17:03:55
I can understand the behavior of Greece and Cyprus. It is obvious they will lose a lot of weight in Balkan geopolitics. It is difficult to accept the new realty when it doesn't fit to your interests. It is a shame that Balkan peoples(including Serbia)is loosing a lot of energy and not being realistic. Go in Kosova and see the realty in face. To nationalistic dreamers I would remind that the river does not run upward. As well their dreams had and still having big cost for Balkan. Not Milosevic but this sick nationalism is Serbians and Balkan curse. I don't know when we will start to overcome ourselves and to see forward. When we will join our forces and to make better this corner of Europe. According to Spain and Slovakia, they have other interests but for sure different from ours. Hailing them is worth of daily interest but there is not a strategy in it. They can block but can't change the situation. What a big helpful deal isn't it? :-)

Spain and Slovakia
2008-12-09 23:33:40
It's funny how can say that Spain and Slovakia can block but cannot change the situation. It's is YOU who cannot change the situation. Resolution 1244 and European countries (more than one) are never going to let you in EU. Now that's reality not some pipe dream your "Snake" is trying to serve you.

Spain Recognition - 2
2008-12-10 10:01:05
Dear N.M. I can understand you perfectly. On my comment I've mentioned you too. Thanks for actualizing my idea.

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