Bulgaria FM: UN Kosovo Resolution Boosts EU-Future of Western Balkans

The flag adopted by Kosovo upon declaring independence. The six stars are meant to represent Kosovo's six major ethnic groups.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong statement of welcome of the recently adopted UN General Assembly resolution on Kosovo.

"As co-author of the resolution tabled by the EU and Serbia, Bulgaria is convinced that new opportunities for the European perspective of the region are being opened," stated the Ministry.

It also says that the UN Resolution reflects the support of the UN of the leading role of EU in the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.

The text of the resolution was brokered at the last minute over this week by Serbian President Boris Tadic and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton.

Serbia had finally agreed to withdraw a prior tabled resolution, calling for denouncing the secession of Kosovo, which was considered inappropriate by countries like the USA and EU greats UK, France and Germany.

In the last weeks, the Serbian government was under immense EU pressure, with senior EU diplomats like German Minister of Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle and UK Secretary of State William Hague suggesting that the EU prospects of Serbia, which is aspiring to be a member, would dim should it fail to soften its stance on Kosovo.

Nevertheless, the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly does not pronounce the independence of Kosovo as legitimate and Serbia has said it has not recognized the breakaway province when it adopted the text.

The important development is nevertheless that Serbian authorities have for the first time agreed to eventually sit down and negotiate with Kosovar authorities, something they have this far considered as impossible given they do not recognize them as legitimate.

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry further adds that it sees the text as evidence that the Serbian government has made a choice in the interest of good neighborly relations and the EU perspective of its countries.

It views Serbia's decision and the resolution as something valuable for the whole region.

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