EU tells Serbia to give up Kosovo ‘last battle’

EurActiv's partner in Serbia, the Beta agency, reported that Serbia tabled an initiative in late August 2010 to push through a resolution in the UN General Assembly declaring unilateral secession by Kosovo as 'unacceptable'. But major EU countries warned Belgrade that it should seek solutions to its problems in Brussels, not New York.

On the 8 September 2010 Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, made a statement after an agreement was reached between the EU and Serbia to co-sponsor a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) draft resolution on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on Kosovo.

On the 9 September 2010 the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo. However, a dispute over the presence of Kosovo officials at the session underlined ongoing tensions.

• Primary Source

Politika, 9.9.10: EU and Serbia finally reach agreement http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/334801-eu-and-serbia-finally-reach-agreement

EUObserver, 8.9.10: Serbia and EU reach breakthrough on Kosovo resolution http://euobserver.com/9/30763

European Union: Press Release, A 176/10: Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the next steps at the UN concerning the advisory opinion on Kosovo http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/116353.pdf

Deutsche Welle, 9.9.10: EU convinces Serbia to water down UN resolution draft http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5987275,00.html

Serbia: Government: Press Release, 9.9.10: UN General Assembly to consider Serbia's resolution proposal harmonised with EU http://www.srbija.gov.rs/vesti/vest.php?id=68738

EurActiv, 10.9.10: Serbia abandons hard line on Kosovo http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbia-abandons-hard-line-kosovo-news-497652

ESO: Background information: Kosovo declaration of independence ruled lawful http://www.europeansources.info/record/icj-set-to-rule-on-kosovo-independence-kosovo-declaration-of-independence-ruled-lawful/

ESO: Background information: 'Map of southeast Europe is finished,' Germany tells Serbia http://www.europeansources.info/record/map-of-southeast-europe-is-finished-germany-tells-serbia/

BBC News, 29.7.10: Serbia seeks support for UN draft resolution on Kosovo http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10812392

Deutsche Welle, 10.9.10: United Nations calls for direct talks between Serbia and Kosovo http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5991648,00.html

UN: General Assembly: Press Release, 10.9.10: Adopting Consensus Resolution, General Assembly Acknowledges World Court Opinion on Kosovo, Welcomes European Union Readiness to Facilitate Process of Dialogue http://www.un.org/press/en/2010/ga10980.doc.htm

WAZ-EUObserver, 8.9.10: Serbia, the EU and Kosovo: time to swallow frogs http://waz.euobserver.com/887/30756

---