The West demands that Serbia swallow spit on Kosovo and stop rapprochement with Russia
The Council of Europe, despite the protests of Serbia, for the first time invited representatives of the Albanian separatist regime of Kosovo to a meeting with partners from the Western Balkans.
The invitation to the Kosovars was extended by the outgoing EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini. The self-proclaimed “state” was represented by the former “Minister of Foreign Affairs” Behdjet Pazolli (“the government” of Kosovo is in resignation after the resignation of “Prime Minister” Ramush Haradinaj due to a summons to the Hague court, which is considering war crimes in the former Yugoslavia).
This is the first time that a territory that is not part of the European Union and is not an official candidate for accession is present at the meeting, Blic reports.
“The meeting in Helsinki is an opportunity for Kosovo to be among friends and have equal relations with other EU countries,” Pacolli said during his welcoming speech, adding that he brought “many congratulations from the youngest country in Europe.”
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, also present at the meeting in Helsinki, called Pazolli’s invitation a “precedent,” Informer writes.
“For the first time, although no one asked her to do so, and for the last time in her term, as if she wants to leave a legacy to (her successor Giuseppe) Borel, Mogherini decided to invite partners from the Western Balkans to a meeting in the EU. This was done only so that Kosovo could be considered a real state,” Dacic said.
The meeting in Finland was used by Western countries to send another message to Serbia.
Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak rather harshly criticized Belgrade's plans to sign a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Union, saying that this would contradict Serbia's plans to join the EU.
“If you are serious about your European orientation, then follow the political decisions that bring you closer. This is not one of those steps,” Lajcak said.
He also said that signing a trade agreement with a “pro-Russian group” was “confusing” for Serbia, adding that “you can’t go in several directions at the same time.”
Lajcak also addressed the Albanian authorities of Kosovo, calling on them to lift the economic blockade of Serbian enclaves, which should unblock negotiations with Belgrade, during which, as the West has repeatedly called, the Serbs are expected to recognize the separatists.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn also spoke about the need to lift the blockade, saying that the positive outcome of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is crucial for the “European perspective of the entire Western Balkans region.”
However, Khan also made it clear that the West is irritated by Serbia's campaign to revoke recognition of Kosovo, which Belgrade is pursuing globally. “Both sides should take steps only towards each other,” the European official said.
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