Wrong Move?
May 6, 2008
In an interview with Russian state news agency RIA Novosti on Monday, May 5, Schroeder said the declaration had come too early and was thus wrong.
It had created new problems without solving old ones, he said.
The European Union had succumbed to pressure from the United States on the Kosovo issue. While recognizing Kosovo may benefit US interests, Schroeder said, it was definitely not in Europe's interests.
Pro-Europeans weakened
The conflict surrounding Kosovo could not be resolved by excluding pro-European supporters in Serbian President Boris Tadic's circle, the former chancellor said. Pro-Europeans in Serbia had been weakened by Kosovo's declaration of independence, he added.
Serbia should be accepted into the EU in the foreseeable future, Schroeder said.
Serbia considers Kosovo its province and said the declaration of independence on Feb. 7 was illegal.
Schroeder is chairman of the Russo-German pipeline consortium Nord Stream.