Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle issued the following statement today (9 September) on the decision by Serb President Tadić to co-sponsor the UN resolution on the ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo together with the 27 EU member states in New York:

“I welcome this decision by President Tadić to co-sponsor the planned UN resolution on the ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo together with the member states of the EU. This is a clear signal that Serbia sees its future in the EU.

The agreement that has been reached is not just an important step on the part of Serbia, it is particularly a success of the common European foreign policy.

ith the passing of the resolution, the path would be clear for direct talks between Serbia and Kosovo. I call upon all parties to launch these talks without delay under the aegis of the EU High Representative and to bring about concrete results to benefit the people.

In all my talks during my trip to the Western Balkans in August, I advocated a policy based on cooperation not confrontation. I appeal to all politicians in the region to work together constructively in the interest of a shared European perspective.”