The European Union (EU) is approaching a concerted position on the future status of Kosovo, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said here Monday.
"I think the position within the European Union is coming closer," he told reporters upon his arrival in Brussels for a meeting of EU foreign ministers, with the Kosovo issue at the top of the agenda.
Solana said that once the EU nations have reached a common position on the issue the EU would "take the responsibility it has to take."
Mediated by the so-called troika, made up of the EU, Russia and the United States, leaders of Kosovo and Serbia have failed to forge a compromise in several rounds of direct negotiations on the status of Kosovo, a Serb province, which has been administered by the UN since 1999.
The authorities of Kosovo, which is mostly inhabited by ethnic Albaninas, insists on independence, while Serbia will only offer broad autonomy.
As the Dec. 10 deadline set by the troika passed, the Serbian province is most likely to declare independence next month with or without an agreement.
The EU is divided over whether to recognize Kosovo's independence from Serbia.
Britain, France, Germany and Italy led the campaign to try to persuade those who are hesitant to recognize a unilateral declaration of independence out of the fear that the move would trigger separatist movements in neighboring countries or at home.
Spain, Cyprus, Greece and Slovakia are among the doubters.
Differences within the 27-nation bloc are expected to be ironed out this week as the Friday EU summit would discuss the problem.
The United States backs independence for ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, while Russia supports Serbia's demand for further negotiations after the deadline in order to reach a compromise.
The U.S. and EU said that the international efforts have ended and a move must be made toward the next step.
Solana said that if requested by the United Nations, the EU could rapidly deploy an 1,600-strong police and civilian mission to Kosovo to help the transition from the UN mission to local administration.
"Our responsibilities will be met," he said. "It will be something negotiated, if necessary, with the United Nations."
Kosovo has been ruled under UN Security Council resolution 1244since 1999 with the deployment of a NATO peacekeeping force of more than 16,000 troops.
Source: Xinhua
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