Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2008-02-20-Speech-3-270"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2008-02-20"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Kosovo (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20080220.14.3-270"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2008-02-20-Speech-3-2712
lpv:speaker	lp:Joost Lagendijk2
lpv:spokenAs	member; AFET (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)3 member; Conference of Delegation Chairs (2004-09-22--2009-07-13)3 unknown; GroenLinks (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3 chair; Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (2004-09-22--2009-07-13)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe (2007-03-15--2009-07-13)3 member; SEDE (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)3 substitute; TRAN (2007-01-31--2009-07-13)3 member; G/EFA (2004-07-20--2009-07-13)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, I am pleased that I was present in Priština last Sunday, when, in a truly dignified fashion, independence was proclaimed. What happened there last Sunday was the inevitable consequence of what happened in 1998–99, when more than 10 000 Kosovars were murdered and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Could Priština have gone back to administration by Belgrade? No. Was muddling along after nine years of an increasingly illegitimate, increasingly ineffective UN administration an option? No. Would a negotiated compromise between Priština and Belgrade have been better? Yes. Would approval by the Security Council have been better? Yes. Was it attempted? Yes. Was there any chance of success? No, particularly as a result of Russian obstruction. I very much hope that, following the euphoria of the last few days, the Kosovars will shoulder their responsibility quickly, as it is they who are at the helm. When the UN has gone, and when the EU mission has arrived, it is the Kosovars who must prove that good relations with minorities do not exist on paper alone, and that they are able to save the economy. It is true that the EU is now divided on the issue of recognition. This will last a few more months and then it will be over and done with. What the EU Member States agree on unanimously is that the future of Kosovo lies in the EU. The tempo of Kosovo’s movement towards the EU will also depend on Serbia’s position, however. We have just seen in the Committee on Foreign Affairs how angry Serbia is, how angry the Minister for Foreign Affairs is, how aggressive his attitude was. That will be a while in changing. To be frank, I can appreciate this, provided such opposition remains non-violent. When the anger has subsided, I very much hope that good sense will prevail. It is true that the secession of Kosovo was inevitable. It is true that the future of Serbia lies just as inevitably in the European Union. To achieve this it is sometimes necessary to surpass oneself. I wish the Kosovars and the Serbs great courage in this."@en1

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