Summary: January 28, 2003: Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the CFSP, expresses his full support for the "standards before status" policy of Michael Steiner, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo (Brussels)
Dr. Javier Solana, High Representative for the EU's Foreign and Security Policy, today met Mr Michael Steiner, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo.
In their first meeting in 2003, Javier Solana and Michael Steiner exchanged views on recent developments and on upcoming challenges in Kosovo: the overall security and political situation, economic and social development, organised crime and the return of refugees, decentralisation as well as developments in Mitrovica and the prospects for initiating direct dialogue on practical issues between Pristina and Belgrade.
Javier Solana expressed once again his full support to Mr Steiner for his relentless efforts in helping all the communities of Kosovo to live and work side by side in peace and security. He also stressed that the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 remains the sole basis for the future status of Kosovo and that no unilateral act could have any impact on Kosovo. He also reiterated his strong support for the "standards before status" policy of Mr Steiner as the only way to ensure the creation of
a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo that can move closer to Europe.
Javier Solana took this opportunity to encourage the Kosovo leaders to assume their responsibilities in 2003 in tackling the critical challenges of economic development, fight against organised crime and building a multi-ethnic society, in line with the strategy and the priorities outlined by Mr Steiner in his new year speech last week.
He also saluted the decision, by the members of the Coalition Povratak, to resume their participation in the Kosovo Assembly as an important step in the direction of promoting inter-ethnic cooperation and democratic participation as the best means in addressing Kosovo's problems.
The European Union remains determined to help Kosovo in building a multiethnic and democratic society. But it depends on Kosovo itself to seize the opportunity and to build its European future.
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