By KUNA
Brussels : The European Union Council of Foreign Ministers began a meeting here today to discuss the declaration of independence by Kosovo on Sunday.
Slovenian foreign minister Dmitrij Rupel whose country holds the current EU Presidency said that a common EU position would help in establishing stability in Kosovo.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Rupel said recognition of Kosovo depends on the individual member states of the 27-member bloc.
He explained that the EU will support stability in Kosovo and the Balkans adding that we shall try to find a common European position.
On his part , Carl Bildt, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, told reporters that todays meeting will discuss the situation in the Balkans especially after the declaration of independence by Kosovo and stressed that all aspects of the matter will be debated.
Bildt said the decision to recognize Kosovo’s independence rests on each country noting that his country will wait the U.N position on the issue.
Luxembourgs foreign minister Jean Asselborn said the declaration of independence by Kosovo will be under the international umbrella and observation and protection of the minorities particularly as Kosovo has multiple ethnicities. He said the EU should work seriously to find a common position and a common line before the talk of recognizing Kosovos independence.
Commenting on the recognition of Kosovo by his country, Asselborn said Luxembourg will be among the first states but the problem is that we have to find a common European position.
We must work with any country which has a problem about it and after that we can come to a common position, he added.
Replying to a question on the rejection by Serbia and Russia to recognize Kosovos independence, Asselborn said Serbia must live with the 21st centuryand with its neighbour Kosovo and stressed that without Serbia there can be no stability in the region as without Kosovo there can be no stability.
The Luxembourg foreign minister said the EU must recognize this reality and that Russia and Serb must see the necessity for stability in the region.
Analysts here opine that the majority of the 27-member European bloc will recognize the independence of Kosovo except Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania which are Orthodox Christian countries like Serbia.
On Saturday, the EU decided to send a police and civil mission composed of some 2,200 policemen, prosecutors and judges entrusted with the task of strengthening stability in Kosovo and ensuring that democratic standards are observed there.
Meanwhile, the Council will also discuss the situation in Sudan , Chad and the Central African Republic and is expected to condemn the recent attacks of armed groups against the government in Chad and call on all sides to return to talks.
EU foreign policy chief JavierSolana confirmed Thursday that the EU has resumed deployment of a peacekeeping force to Chad.
The deployment of the 3,700-strong EUFOR mission to Chad and the Central African Republic was suspended a few days after it began in January due to the fighting between troops loyal to President Idriss Deby and rebels opposed to him in the capital Ndjamena.
The EU ministers will review the situation in Kenya following the violence that arose after the disputed presidential elections.
The Council is expected to reiterate the urgent need for Kenya ‘s leaders to engage seriously in order to bring an immediate end to the violence and to ensure security.
Developments in Palestine , Lebanon and Burma are also on the agenda of the 2-day meeting, while on Tuesday, the EU-Lebanon Association Council will meet.