Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica yesterday stated that Olli Rehn’s statements mean Serbia should not be signing any agreement with the EU.

Olli Rehn, the European enlargement commissioner yesterday said that the EULEX mission was being deployed to help Kosovo stand on its own two feet. Speaking at a conference in Brussels on civil society in South Eastern Europe yesterday, Rehn said, “The EU supports Kosovo in standing on its own, and wants to help Kosovo help itself. That is ultimately the goal of our economic and social development program, and that is the task of the EU Mission to Kosovo, EULEX.”

Responding to Rehn’s statements, the Serbian PM stated that he “appreciates it” that “finally, after a long wait,” Rehn had openly stated that the EU supported the creation of the state of Kosovo, and that that was why the EU was sending its EULEX mission to the province.  Kostunica said, ““I say that I appreciate Rehn giving the EU’s answer, as it had become inappropriate to continue concealing the EU’s current position and Brussels’ current aims regarding Kosovo.”

On the issue, Kostunica said, “We have to wait for the new parliament to be formed and the new government that will have the people’s mandate to handle matters of the utmost importance for Serbia’s future.”

He reiterated that only an intact Serbia with its province of Kosovo by its side could continue on the path to European integration. He said, “After the May 11 elections, the new government must launch talks with the EU, while protecting its national and state interests.”