RFE/RL Interviews Kosovo President on Kosovo-Serbia Dispute
Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga urged Serbia to stop meddling in her country’s internal affair and appealed both Pristina and Belgrade to focus on the goal of European Union integration.
In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL’s Balkan Service on October 10, Jahjaga said that dispute over the Serb-dominated northern section of Kosovo threaten both countries’ prospect of EU membership. She urged Serbian leaders in Belgrade to “cut off their support of parallel structures” in northern Kosovo.
“Our future is to join the EU,” Jahjaga said during the interview. “The best way to move toward the EU is by supporting each other and not fighting each other.”
Since March, the European Union has brokered negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia. The dialogue broke off on September 28, following violent clashes in Serb-populated northern Kosovo.
On the same day of the interview, European Union mediator Robert Cooper began a two-day visit of the region in new effort to revive dialogue between the two sides. In a progress report to be issued on October 12, the European Commission will demand Serbia to “show a more constructive attitude” on Kosovo, according to leaked drafts of the document.
To watch the interview, go to: http://www.rferl.org/content/kosovo_president_urges_serbia_stop_meddling_instead_focus_on_eu_integration/24356022.html