Summit calls for EU membership for all Western Balkan states
OHRID, Macedonia (AFP) — EU integration is the only "viable political alternative" for the Western Balkans, a two-day summit of leaders from across central, eastern and southern Europe concluded on Saturday.
However, as expected, the get-together failed to find common ground on the status of Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February. Kosovo's leader, Fatmir Sejdiu, was not invited to attend.
"The process of Euroatlantic integrations should not be considered completed without the full inclusion of all western Balkan states and Ukraine into the NATO Alliance and the EU," said Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, presenting the main conclusions of the summit.
Crvenkovski, the host of the summit that has gathered the presidents from 18 countries said the leaders "have agreed to make additional efforts to provide stability and prosperity of the region."
"The integration into the EU does not have a viable political alternative for the candidates and aspiring states," Crvenkovski told reporters.
EU hopefuls "should intensify the necessary reforms, while the EU will continue to support their efforts," he added.
One of the major topics discussed at the summit was Kosovo, a breakaway territory whose ethnic Albanian majority unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February.
The move was recognized by nearly 40 countries, including the United States and most EU states.
But Serbia and its traditional ally Russia rejected the move and a number of other European countries, including the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Spain, have refused to recognise the independence of the Serbian province.
Crvenkovski said the participants at the summit had "different views" on Kosovo, but added that "everyone agreed that the regional stability is of utmost importance."
"Additional resources and efforts should be used in order to reach lasting security, stability and prosperity for both Kosovo and the region," he said.
While Kosovo was discussed at the summit, its leader Fatmir Sejdiu was not invited to attend, as there was no consensus on the issue among participants.
Leaders from Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Moldova, Montenegro and Slovakia attended the summit which has been held annually for the last 15 years.
The presidents of Albania, Austria, Bosnia, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine also took part in the meeting, while leaders of Italy and Romania sent representatives.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul was invited to join as a guest.
The 2009 summit will be held in Serbia.
