President Kosovo bespeurt verschuiving in standpunt EU-lidstaten omtrent erkenning (en)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu has said that the five EU countries that do not recognise Kosovo's independence are "moving" on the issue.
Focusing on Greece, which does not recognise Kosovo but which plays a role in policing the former Serb province and which accepts Kosovar passports, Mr Sejdiu told EUobserver in an interview that:
"We have a postive movement. I cannot say now which will be the day when they recognise [Kosovo's status] because they are a sovereign state. But what is positive is that Greece is actively involved in all the issues in Kosovo."
"I believe that Greece will move positively. There are also signs that the other countries will move in this direction. We will work on that," he added, referring to EU member states Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia and Spain.
Mr Sejdiu said he has had two friendly meetings with his Cypriot counterpart on the margins of UN events.
He also described a meeting in September with Spanish premier José Luís Zapatero i as a "very good chat" and said that it covered the status issue.
Kosovo's foreign minister in February already predicted that Greece will change its mind, following the advent of a new centre-left government. But the Greek ambassador to Serbia instantly shot down the claim.
Mr Sejdiu is keen for the five countries to alter their position in tandem with EU plans for visa-free travel for Kosovars. The EU is at an early stage in Kosovo visa talks, in a process which tends to take at least two years in technical terms.
"I think that this [the status decisions] should happen at the same time," the president said.
He assured the union that visa-free travel would not see a sudden exodus of Kosovar economic migrants, as in the case of Macedonia and Serbia, which began visa-free travel late last year.
"In Kosovo, people would not behave that way. It might be the case that people would leave for a month or a few months and then come back. But I know very well the mentality of my people - they are very connected to their country," Mr Sejdiu said.
Recent studies do not bear out his line. A survey published in Kosovo's leading daily, Koha Ditore, last August noted that the unemployment rate among young people is 73 percent and forecast that one third of young Kosovars would leave if they had the chance.
Brdo summit at risk
Turning to the prospects for a Balkans Summit, planned to take place in Brdo, Slovenia on Saturday, Mr Sejdiu said Kosovo will attend only if it is put on an equal protocol footing with Serbia.
The event risks falling apart after Serbia said it would not come if Kosovo is invited as an independent country, with EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy i on Thursday signaling he will also stay away unless the dispute is resolved.
"Unfortunately, Serbia always takes the attitude that other people should ask for its permission before deciding whether or not to take a morning coffee," the Kosovar president remarked.