2ND EU presses for pro-Europe government in Serbia


dpa German Press Agency
Published: Monday January 22, 2007

Brussels- The European Union on Monday pressed Serbia's pro-reform parties to join forces in a new government, saying this could result in a resumption of stalled cooperation talks with the 27-nation bloc. EU foreign ministers, meeting for their first review of global hotspots in the new year, also spotlighted Ukraine's "European aspirations" and said talks on a a new cooperation pact with the country would open on February 6.

With German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the chair, the 27-nation bloc also vowed full and effective implementation of United Nations sanctions against Iran which is still defying demands for an end to uranium enrichment activities.

Germany is current president of the 27-nation EU.

EU ministers encouraged pro-democracy groups which collectively won a majority of votes in Serbian parliamentary polls to step up efforts to forge a government.

"The democratic process (in Serbia) has worked," said Steinmeier. While the outcome had not resulted in a "model government ... nonetheless there are chances of Serbia keeping on track towards Europe," he added.

EU enlargement chief Olli Rehn warned, however, that a resumption of EU ties with Serbia remained conditional on "concrete and convincing" moves by Belgrade to arrest and transfer Bosnian Serb wartime leader Ratko Mladic to the International Criminal Tribunal on the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Once this happened, Rehn said he would restart suspended talks on a first-ever association agreement with Belgrade as a first step in Serbia's "European journey."

Steinmeier and Rehn said they would be going to Belgrade shortly to talk to reformist leaders.

EU ministers voiced full backing for Martti Ahtisaari, the UN envoy on Kosovo, with Steinmeier insisting that proposals on the future of the Serbian province should not be delayed beyond the current early-February deadline.

Ahtisaari is expected to recommend limited independence for Kosovo which has been under UN administration since the 1999 war. Negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, however, are stalled with Pristina demanding full independence but Belgrade instead offering a form of autonomy for the province.

Steinmeier said the EU will work closely with countries in the region to find a peaceful solution to Kosovo's status.

EU ministers gave a boost to Ukraine's long-standing bid for membership of the bloc by acknowledging the country's "European aspirations."

The EU would also open negotiations on a new agreement with Kiev, sending an "important political signal that Europe wants to do its bit to keep Ukraine on the reform course," said Steinmeier.

However, an EU statement stressed that such a new accord "should not prejudge any possible future developments in relations with the bloc."

The EU last December sent aspiring members a go-slow message on further expansion, warning that the bloc would be "cautious about assuming any new commitments" on opening its doors.

Raising the bar even higher, EU leaders agreed that the entry of new states should be conditional on the EU's own "integration capacity," a reference to the bloc's finances and decision-making procedures.

EU top officials have also recommended the bloc must put all further expansion plans on ice pending a constitutional deal to streamline EU decision-making.

Separately, the EU vowed strong and effective implementation of UN sanctions on Iran following Teheran's refusal to end its controversial uranium enrichment programme.

"We have a common stance...to show resolve," said Steinmeier.

EU governments agreed to prevent trade in sensitive nuclear technology with Iran. In addition, the EU promised to implement a ban on transactions with and freeze the assets of individuals and entities linked to the nuclear programme.

EU travel by Iranian nationals involved in the nuclear sector will be restricted. Measures will also involve a ban on Iranians studying "proliferation-sensitive subjects" in the EU.

The statement said the measures against Iran would be taken "without delay."

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency