EU split over Kosovo independence would create 'chaos', EU envoy says
The EU's Kosovo envoy, Wolfgang Ischinger, has urged the bloc to work towards finding a common response to a possible failure of the final round of diplomacy on the fate of the province, including the scenario of unilaterally declared independence.
"There is a great risk that the [international] troika will fail to reach an agreement [between Belgrade and Pristina] and therefore, the EU has to start preparing to speak with one voice after 10 December", Mr Ischinger said in an interview with Slovak public radio on Friday (31 August).
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He also warned against "chaos" if the EU splits over how to deal with the consequences, saying "we have to know precisely what our position will be".
The international troika – consisting of representatives from the US, Russia and the EU –has been in charge of diplomatic efforts since the UN Security Council failed in July to adopt a resolution in the face of Russia's veto threat citing the principle of Serbia's territorial integrity.
The diplomatic trio is due to report back to the United Nations by 10 December, but Belgrade and Pristina remain far from an agreement
While the Serbs refuse to grant its southern province anything beyond wide autonomy, the Kosovars insist on full independence.
Mr Ischinger, appointed by the bloc to help mediate in a new round of talks between Serbian and Kosovan leaders over the future status of Kosovo, described the chances to strike a compromise as "not very likely".
According to the German diplomat, Kosovan leaders will stick to last-chance talks until their deadline expires. In case of failure, however, the internal pressure to declare an independent state is likely to increase.
"We have heard statements from the West which encourage Kosovo to set itself on the path towards independence", Mr Ischinger said, calling on EU capitals to be realistic and to prepare for such a scenario.
"It would be an illusion to believe this problem will be solved by ignoring it", he concluded.
Division
It is believed that the US would recognize Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence, while the move would certainly split the 27-nation bloc.
According to some reports, the UK, France and Germany may be ready to back Washington on independence, but others, including Spain, Greece and Slovakia are firmly opposed.
Meanwhile, Kosovo's prime minister Agim Ceku reiterated his resolution to split from Serbia before the end of this year.
"We prefer recognition to be based on a United Nations resolution, but we cannot wait until all UN Security Council members agree", Mr Ceku was cited as saying by Reuters.
"We are ready, in the absence of a UN Security Council resolution, to declare independence and ask for recognition by the EU and the United States", he added.
