"Absurd to expect Serbia to recognize Kosovo"

Source: Politika

BELGRADE -- Swedish Ambassador to Serbia Christer Asp has stated that it would be "absurd to expect Serbia to recognize Kosovo's independence".

Christer Asp (Politika)

Nobody is asking for this since five EU countries did not wish to do so either, he told Belgrade-based daily Politika in an interview.
The diplomat stated that Sweden was "against any changes to the existing borders, and is completely in agreement with the U.S. on this issue". In line with his country's decision to recognize Kosovo, Asp was reffering to the existence of a "border between Kosovo and Serbia", Politika explained.

Sweden was among the 22 EU member states that recognized the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration of independence made in early 2008, which Serbia rejected as illegal.

"Nobody is expecting or asking Serbia to do so in order to be granted EU accession, but Belgrade is expected to achieve good neighborly relations," the Swedish ambassador was quoted as saying.

He explained that representatives of Belgrade and Priština will discuss electricity, telecommunications and flyover permits and added that the topics of the technical dialogue would be more difficult than the ones which have been already agreed on and are being implemented.

However much resolution of problems may be important, Sweden believes that achievement of a longer-lasting sustainable solution calls for some sort of political talks on a higher level. "President Nikolić expressed the willingness to meet with Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and this is a very positive signal," Asp said.

According to him, "Sweden wants to see Serbia join the EU as soon as possible because this would have a positive influence on the development of the entire region".

He added that Sweden believes Serbia could get the date of beginning of talks with the EU in December.

"We still have September, October and November before that moment, and if the new government sends positive results, this will be sufficient time to achieve progress and improve relations with Priština," Asp said and added that later on, "political talks would have to be conducted between northern Kosovo and Priština, simultaneously with the Belgrade-Priština dialogue".