Serbia’s EU membership would resolve Kosova problem, says Bakoyannis

GREECE, April 8 – Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said Tuesday that Kosova’s problem with Serbia would only be resolved once Serbia joined the European Union.
“A true solution to Kosova will only be reached when Serbia and the whole region are part of the European Union,” Bakoyannis said during the conference which was also attended by her counterparts from Albania, Bulgaria and Romania, as well as the prime minister of the Bosnian Serb republic.
“Only then will we be able to say we’ve turned the corner.”
Kosova, Bakoyannis said, is “an important challenge not only for us, the countries in the region … it is a challenge to Europe itself.”
Serbia’s upcoming parliamentary election is crucial for the country’s relationship with the rest of Europe and voters, angered by Kosova’s declaration of independence, could turn to politicians hostile to the EU, according to Serbia’s foreign minister.
Nationalists have gained strength from growing frustration over several countries’ recognition of the independence of Kosova, a predominantly ethnic Albanian province that split from Serbia in February despite Belgrade’s vociferous objections.(Tirana Times Staff)