ATHENS - Independence for the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo would be a ‘valuable contribution to peace’ and help the prospects of Albania and Serbia to join the EU, Albania’s president said Monday.
‘The independence of Kosovo would contribute to the final pacification of the area,’ Albanian President Bamir Topi said after talks with his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias in Greece.
‘I believe that the future of Kosovo, Albania and Serbia lies with the European Union. That is why the award of independence status would be a valuable contribution to peace,’ Topi said.
Topi is on a three-day visit to Greece until Tuesday and is also scheduled to meet with Greek PM Costas Karamanlis and opposition party leaders.
His comments came as Serbian and Kosovo officials were to begin last-ditch talks on Kosovo’s future status in Austria, with hopes dim for reaching an accord ahead of a UN deadline on December 10.
The two sides have so far failed to reach agreement.
Kosovo’s 1.8 million ethnic Albanian population wants independence from Serbia, a move supported by the United States.
But Belgrade, backed by Russia, has staunchly rejected independence, offering instead wide autonomy for Kosovo but within Serbia’s territory. (KhaleejTimes, Koha Shqiptare)
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