De EU bekritiseert Servische minister president voor het vertragen van de ondertekening van een politieke overeenkomst (en)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - In an unusually strong statement, EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn i has criticised Serbia's prime minister for blocking the signature of an interim, but highly symbolic, political agreement between Belgrade and the 27-nation bloc.
"We understand that political and procedural obstacles in Serbia have prevented a decision authorising the government to sign this interim political agreement", Mr Rehn told a news conference on Wednesday (6 February).
"I deeply regret the obstruction by certain politicians in Belgrade (_). In my view they have failed to hear the voice of the Serbian people who voted last Sunday [in the presidential elections for pro-EU candidate Boris Tadic] in favour of Serbia's European future, in favour of better lives, better citizen rights".
"It is truly sad for Serbia if politicians continue to put power games ahead of their own citizens' interests", he continued in a clear reference to Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica.
The EU last week put together a deal - offering Belgrade closer trade relations, relaxed visa requirements and educational cooperation - which was to be signed on Thursday (7 February).
On Monday, it also approved a 1,800-strong civilian mission to be sent to Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo - something Belgrade opposes.
The prime minister, as well as some other Serb politicians, argue that the two issues are being linked by the EU.
Mr Kostunica, whose Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) is part of the four-party governing coalition in Serbia, stated on Tuesday (5 February) that "the EU's proposal to sign a political agreement with Serbia while sending a mission to disintegrate our state is a deception aimed at getting Serbia's signature on the agreement with the EU, which, in fact, would mean that it agrees with Kosovo's independence and it would make it a first step to directly recognise independent Kosovo".
Mr Rehn rejected the link between Serbia's EU integration and Kosovo's future, underlining that they remain separate processes.
"Not so long ago prime minister Kostunica asked me to keep Serbia's European integration process moving forward and not to make any linkages between the EU process and Kosovo process. I am disappointed he has turned down his own commitment", Mr Rehn said.
"Maybe you can also say that with this blockage certain politicians are in a way filing for a divorce before the marriage has been even agreed. And I find this also rather regrettable", the enlargement commissioner concluded.
His strong criticism comes after Mr Kostunica said that a regular government meeting scheduled for Thursday (7 February), which was to give the green light to deputy prime minister Bozidar Djelic to travel to Brussels and sign the EU deal, will not be held.
The prime minister requested an urgent session of the Serbian parliament instead, in order "to confirm the national unity in the defence of Kosovo-Metohija" and to avoid political destabilisation, according to the website of the Serbian government.
Meanwhile, sixteen ministers as well as Serbian deputy premier Bozidar Djelic have sent Mr Kostunica a letter asking him not to block Thursday's cabinet meeting.
"We hereby ask you to schedule a regular government session for Thursday, February 7, 2008, at which, among other things, the government will decide on its stance towards the political agreement on cooperation between the EU and its member countries on the one side, and Serbia on the other", the letter reads.