Kosovo PM rejects talks on status
(BELGRADE) - Kosovo will join the European Union and NATO as a whole, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said, brushing off any new talks over its status, disputed by Serbia, Beta news agency reported on Saturday.
"The territorial integrity of Kosovo is untouchable, internationally recognized and guaranteed, and Kosovo will, within these borders, integrate into NATO and the EU," Thaci told Beta in an interview.
Serbia opposes Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in February 2008 and has challenged the move before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Kosovo is ready to talk about improving relations with Serbia, but it will never accept discussions on Kosovo's status, he said.
"We can talk as two independent states about concrete issues of interest for both countries," Thaci said.
Belgrade still considers Kosovo as its southern province and has repeatedly called for further talks over its status following an ICJ opinion.
The ICJ held hearings on the case in December in which some 30 nations gave testimony. The judges of the ICJ are expected to deliver a non-binding opinion to the UN General Assembly in the coming months.
Thaci said he expected the ICJ to issue a ruling which "will fully recognize the will of the people and reality in Kosovo... which will support the declaration of independence," Beta quoted him as saying.
Kosovo, whose ethnic Albanians are predominantly Muslims and whose Serbs are Christian Orthodox, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.
It has so far been recognised by 65 countries, including the United States and all but five EU members. It also became a member of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
"We will be members of NATO and the EU," Thaci said.
In Pristina, President Fatmir Sejdiu said that Thaci would represent Kosovo at a summit of EU and Balkan leaders in Slovenia on March 20 as a fully fledged state, despite Serbia's objections.
Sejdiu told reporters that Kosovo would appear in Slovenia "only as an independent state", adding that Thaci "will only present our country".
"Wherever Kosovo is present, it will be present as a state, there is no doubt about it," Thaci said in Pristina.
On Friday, Serbian President Boris Tadic said he would refuse to meet with Kosovar leaders at the conference in Slovenia unless they used the United Nations' administration (UNMIK) flag.
After a 1999 NATO-led air campaign ousted Belgrade's security forces, Kosovo became an international protectorate under a UN mandate, patrolled by NATO peacekeepers.
"This is a fundamental pre-condition for Serbia to take part at such a meeting," Tadic added.
Belgrade officials boycott all international meetings where Kosovo leaders appear as state representatives.
In February, the Serbia-Kosovo dispute marred the inauguration of new Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, as Tadic boycotted it because of Sejdiu's presence.
And on Friday, Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, attending a regional summit in Tirana, left the conference hall as his Kosovo counterpart Zenun Pajaziti addressed the participants.
Dacic also refused to have a joint picture taken "with all the ministers", the Koha Ditore daily said.