Serbian boycott of Kosovo "makes no sense," EU rapporteur says

Jun 4, 2011, 7:23 GMT

Belgrade - The decision by Serbian President Boris Tadic to boycott international events if Kosovo is represented makes 'no sense,' the European Union's rapporteur for Serbia, Jelko Kacin, said in an interview published Saturday.

Tadic last week skipped a regional summit in Warsaw, in which US President Barack Obama also took part, because the former Serbian province was also there with its president, Atifete Jahjaga.

The US strongly supported Kosovo's split from Serbia in 2008.

But with it Tadic 'failed to punish Obama, if that is what he intended to do,' and it has also sent a wrong signal to Poland, Kacin told the Belgrade daily Danas in an interview.

Poland assumes the rotating six-month presidency of the EU on July 1, and it is during its term that Serbia is hoping to be formally recognized as a membership candidate.

'I think it makes no sense to argue whether Poland may or may not invite somebody as a guest,' Kacin said, stressing how 'Serbia must understand that good relations with Kosovo are in Serbia's interest.'

Tadic routinely boycotts events where Kosovo is invited as a full-fledged state. The former Serbian province has been recognized by 75 nations, including the United States and most EU nations.

Despite Tadic's diplomatic tactic, Serbia has bowed to EU pressure and is negotiating with Kosovo how best to resolve some of the crippling real-life problems stemming from the secession.

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