Hungary to veto Kosovo’s applications to EU bodies: Foreign minister
BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Tuesday that his country will vote against Kosovo’s membership to European bodies.
Hungary’s position is that admitting Kosovo into certain European organizations would jeopardize the reaching of a compromise, he said.
“The premature admission of Kosovo by various European entities may jeopardize the search for reconciliation. Therefore, if there is a vote on whether to accept Kosovo as a member of the Council of Europe, the government will vote no,” Szijjarto said after meeting Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic in Budapest.
Szijjarto said Hungary supports a peaceful solution and reconciliation through dialogue.
Kosovo submitted a application in December to the Czech Republic, which presided over the European Union at that time.
Spain, Slovakia, Greek Cypriot administration, Romania and Greece are EU member countries that do not recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Kosovo is the last country in the region to apply for candidate status and it occurred on the same day that Bosnia and Herzegovina was confirmed with the status in the EU.
Szijjarto thanked Serbia for enabling 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas to reach his country via the Turkish Stream.
Dacic said the Kosovo issue can only be resolved through concessions.
”We believe that the issue of Kosovo can only be resolved by compromise and we are very sensitive that it is approached in accordance with the policy of double standards when it comes to territorial integrity. Either territorial integrity is a principle, or it is not. You can’t be in favor of preserving territorial integrity in one case, and say it the other way around,” said Dacic.
He said Serbia has three “red lines” when it comes to Serbs in Kosovo — the first is to respect all signed agreements.
“Our second red line is that we will not recognize Kosovo’s independence and accept its membership in the EU. Our third red line is the security of Serbs in Kosovo,” said Dacic.
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