Kosovo Serbs Divided over EU-Serbia Deal

| 30 April 2008 |

Oliver Ivanovic

Mitrovica _ Hardline Kosovo Serb leaders condemned Serbia’s President for signing a pre-membership deal with the EU, while a moderate Serb leader welcomed the move.

Leaders from the Serbian National Council, led by Milan Ivanovic and Marko Jaksic, warned Serbia’s President Boris Tadic that “they will use all means to annul the Stabilisation and Association Agreement” claiming it is tantamount to Belgrade’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

Tadic, joined Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic and Foreign Minister, Vuk Jeremic, all members of the pro-European Democratic Party in signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, SAA in Luxembourg on Tuesday. The deal is widely seen as the first step towards EU membership. Read more: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/9742/

Nationalist parties, including that of caretaker Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, slammed the decision arguing the EU should recognise Kosovo as a part of Serbia first before any such deal is signed. Kostunica has also made the claim that Belgrade will sign off Kosovo if the SAA is signed. Read more: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/9763/

EU officials have reiterated that the SAA, which Serbia initialled last year, does not deal with the Kosovo’s status and that article 135 of the text recognises the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, which put the then Serbian province of Kosovo under UN administration following the 1998-1999 conflict.

Meanwhile moderate Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic welcomed the move, adding Serbia can better defend its claim over Kosovo at the EU.

“Our political struggle for the preservation of Serbia’s territorial integrity and keeping Kosovo, depends on our relations with EU member states. Isn’t it better to make friends with those countries, than to create more enemies?” he asked.

He also warned if the Democrats come to power they will investigate crime and corruption in the Kosovo Serb enclaves.

“Serbia has paid a lot of funds for Kosovo, and very little has reached its destination. One serious investigation would certainly show a lot of irregularities, meaning many might be prosecuted,” Ivanovic told Serbia’s monthly ‘Glas Juga,’ adding it might be exactly those who are currently attack President Tadic for his pro-European policies.