Summary of press remarks by EUHR Solana in Kosovo

Mr Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), made the following remarks to the media at a joint press briefing with UN Special Representative, Soren Jessen-Petersen, after his meetings with political leaders in Pristina on 6 December:

"I am here today at a critical moment for Kosovo, just a few weeks after the beginning of the negotiations on Kosovo's final status. Kosovo's political leaders and its people must all join forces and work together to create a better future for all people in Kosovo. It is going to be a long process which is not going to be resolved in 24 hours. There are going to be moments with tensions and complications on the political side. Everyone will have, at times, to make painful sacrifices or painful engagements.

Standards implementation continues to be essential. This has to progress in parallel with the status talks.

It is essential to ensure a secure future for all communities, including Kosovans of Serbian origin. It is very important to see more progress on decentralization.

Violence has no place in this process. It is inconceivable for me and for everybody in the international community that violence resumes here. If any type of violence - low level or high level - restarts this will probably be the end of the process. This is a political process that has to be carried out politically.

You will have all the support of the European Union. And you know very well that you have started a journey that, if everything goes OK, may end up in Brussels. The solution to Kosovo's status must be fully compatible with the European values.

Mr Ahtisaari will be leading the status process and everybody should do their utmost to cooperate in a constructive manner with him."

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• Kosovo Contact Group Statement  (31/1/2006)
• EUHR Solana expresses condolences on death of Kosovo's President Rugova (21/1/2006)
• EUHR Solana offers condolences to Slovak PM and NATO SG (20/1/2006)
• EU External Relations Council Conclusions (12/12/2005)
• Key findings of 2005 Progress Reports on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo (9/11/2005)
• Future EU Role and Contribution in Kosovo  (14/6/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - UN Mission to Kosovo  (27/5/2005)
• A European Future for Kosovo (20/4/2005)