ploto
12-28-2007, 10:38 AM
I was hoping to get some perspective on how this may all play out from the Slovenians here.
Tiny Slovenia becomes the first of the 12 EU newcomers to take over the bloc's rotating presidency on Jan. 1, a big psychological boost to a nation that gained independence from the ruins of the former Yugoslavia only 16 years ago.
But along with the prestige comes the daunting responsibility of overseeing a common EU policy as Kosovo prepares to declare independence from Serbia just weeks after Slovenia begins its six-month stint at the helm...
The United States and several EU states have said they would recognize Kosovo's independence because it has not been under Serbia's control since 1999, when NATO intervened to stop former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic's military crackdown against the separatists.
Serbia, backed by Russia, insists Kosovo — considered the cradle of Serbia's medieval state and religion — should remain part of its territory, and has urged more negotiations with Kosovo Albanians.
On Wednesday, Serbia's parliament overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that threatens to halt the country's integration into the European Union and cut off diplomatic ties with Western countries if they recognize Kosovo's independence...
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/28/europe/EU-GEN-Slovenia-EU-Presidency.php#end_main
Tiny Slovenia becomes the first of the 12 EU newcomers to take over the bloc's rotating presidency on Jan. 1, a big psychological boost to a nation that gained independence from the ruins of the former Yugoslavia only 16 years ago.
But along with the prestige comes the daunting responsibility of overseeing a common EU policy as Kosovo prepares to declare independence from Serbia just weeks after Slovenia begins its six-month stint at the helm...
The United States and several EU states have said they would recognize Kosovo's independence because it has not been under Serbia's control since 1999, when NATO intervened to stop former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic's military crackdown against the separatists.
Serbia, backed by Russia, insists Kosovo — considered the cradle of Serbia's medieval state and religion — should remain part of its territory, and has urged more negotiations with Kosovo Albanians.
On Wednesday, Serbia's parliament overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that threatens to halt the country's integration into the European Union and cut off diplomatic ties with Western countries if they recognize Kosovo's independence...
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/28/europe/EU-GEN-Slovenia-EU-Presidency.php#end_main