Serbia pushes EU to decide on Kosovo

Vineri, 4 ianuarie 2008, 16:58 English | Regional Europe

Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica has warned European officials that they needed to make a decision whether they support the independence of Kosovo or tighten their ties with Belgrade, BBC informs.Kostunica declared that EU member states should decide whether they accept Serbia as their partner.

His statement came as ethnic Albanian leaders are preparing to announce the independence of Kosovo within months.

EU officials will meet at the end of January to decide whether they will send civil forces in the region to stabilize the events.

BBC adds that ethnic Serbs in Kosovo protested against the EU planned mission. In November last year, Serbia signed an Association and Stability Agreement with the EU as a first step to start negotiating a EU membership.  

Serbia will organize presidential elections on January 20 this year and Kosovo is a hot theme in the election campaign.