The European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner stated yesterday that a “stable, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo” has a European perspective.

Ferrero-Waldner said that the other Western Balkan countries also had European prospects, and that the EU was working on making these become reality.

Asked if it was possible for “the EU to take a united position on the issue of Kosovo independence,” Ferrero-Waldner replied that “the EU’s position on Kosovo has been clearly formulated over a long period of time.”

The European Commissioner said, “Stability in that region is in the interests of the EU and of all those who want to attract direct foreign investment to the Balkans and, more importantly, of those who want to see an end to the long-running conflicts in the region.”

Ferrero-Waldner said that expanding the Union to central, eastern and southern Europe would be a great success for EU foreign policy, and that it would contribute greatly to international stability.

Waldner said, “New EU member-states have successfully made the transition into democratic countries with developed market economies. Moreover, the EU as a whole has benefited from dynamic growth in Europe. The same process has now begun in the Western Balkans.”

When asked whether other prospective breakaway states would follow Kosovo’s example and seek independence, Ferrero-Waldner replied that “Kosovo is a unique case, since it has had a specific history over the last few decades.”

The commissioner insisted, “I don’t think it’s right now to be drawing comparisons between one conflict and others. Instead, we should try to find a solution to the problem that is acceptable to all sides through negotiations.”