“We will work together to find a solution today”, Foreign Minister Plassnik commented before today’s Council meeting, with reference to the planned opening of accession negotiations on the first negotiating chapter with Turkey.
Plassnik already had a meeting yesterday with the Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou to explore possible compromise solutions. Further meetings with the Cypriot delegation took place immediately prior to the Council meeting.
“We must and we will take every step in this process together – unanimously. We always knew the accession process would be a long and difficult road. There are no shortcuts and nothing is automatic”, she stressed.
“Today is also a day of encouraging signs for the Western Balkans region. We will open substantive accession negotiations with Croatia. In addition, I will sign together with Prime Minister Berisha the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania. This is proof that the European perspective is not just lip-service, but a specific offer", Plassnik said. She also referred to the forthcoming decision on Montenegro: “Today we will decide to conduct relations with Montenegro as an independent, sovereign state. The Member States will then proceed, probably very speedily in some cases, to recognise Montenegro in accordance with their national rules.”
Plassnik also mentioned the preparation of the conclusions of the forthcoming European Council as another priority for today’s Council meeting. In addition, the Council will discuss developments in the Middle East and in connection with Iran’s nuclear programme, following the offer recently presented in Teheran by High Representative Javier Solana.
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