Paris, 10 July 2008 – The Assembly continues to take an interest in developments in the Balkans and sent a high-level delegation comprising Jean-Pierre Masseret, President of the Assembly, Pedro Agramunt, Chairman of the Political Committee, Theodoros Pangalos, Chairman of the Socialist Group, and Robert Walter, Chairman of the Federated Group, to visit Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje from 7 to 9 July 2008. This fact-finding mission came about as a consequence of a debate that took place in the Assembly’s June plenary session on a report entitled “2008: A decisive year for the western Balkans”. The report (Document A/2001), presented by the Chairman of the Political Committee and Rapporteur Pedro Agramunt, followed on from a colloquy which was held in Ljubljana on 4 March 2008 on the occasion of the Slovenian Presidency and at the invitation of the Slovenian Parliament and which was attended by more than 200 participants.

In Belgrade, the delegation met with Mrs Slavica Djukic Dejanovic, Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Mr Olivier Dulic, a former Speaker of the Parliament, Mr Dusan Spasojevic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, and a number of other officials and parliamentarians. Discussions focused on the policy of the new government which was being approved by parliamentary vote on the very day of the delegation’s visit, including in particular Belgrade’s views on the future integration of Serbia into the Euro-Atlantic structures and on possible developments regarding its relations with Kosovo which had declared its independence in March of this year. As it is known, Serbia and a number of European countries have not recognised Kosovo’s independence and uncertainties remain as to the status of the EU’s EULEX mission.

In Pristina, talks were held with, among others, Mr Fatmir Sejdiu, President of Kosovo, Mr Jakup Krasniqi, Vice-President of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr Hajredin Kuci, Deputy Prime Minister, and General Yves de Kermabon, Head of the EULEX mission. The delegation discussed matters regarding Kosovo’s relations with Serbia and other neighbouring countries, its relations with the EU and NATO and the important task of developing Kosovo’s economy.

In Skopje, the delegation met with Mr Lazar Elenovski, Minister of Defence, Mr Trajko Veljanoski, President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr Antonijo Miloshoski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Nikkola Gruevski, Prime Minister, Mr Branko Crvenkovski, President of the Republic, and a number of parliamentarians. Among the subjects discussed were the country’s economy, the importance of an EU visa regime – which would enable young people to travel more easily within the Schengen area and improve their knowledge of Europe – and the question of the constitutional name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Greece refuses to recognise the country’s constitutional name and negotiations are being held under UN auspices to find a solution which is acceptable to both countries.