Summary: October 7, 2003: Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the launching of direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Brussels)
The EU recalls the Council Conclusions of 29 September and reaffirms its full support to the launching of direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on practical issues of mutual interest.
The EU also fully endorses Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Harri Holkeri's proposal to have the first meeting in Vienna on 14 October. The Italian Presidency, High Representative Javier Solana and European Commissioner Chris Patten have already expressed their commitment to be present in Vienna.
The EU therefore calls upon all parties involved to demonstrate unconditional support for the dialogue in all appropriate forms and to fully cooperate with the SRSG in this regard, also on the basis of the commitment made at Thessaloniki before the EU.
Direct dialogue is an indispensable element of the IC strategy of "standards before status" on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. It is also an essential step towards normalization of Kosovo. A failure to start direct talks on 14 October would be a missed opportunity in this respect and could endanger further progress of Kosovo towards the EU.
The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.
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