Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Monday, 29 October 2007.

Kosovo

Question: My Lords, we are all aware that this has implications for Serbian domestic politics as well as for the future of Kosovo. Some of us have been lobbied by moderate Serbian politicians not to push them too far because of the long-term implications. Given that long-term peace in the region depends on future economic, social and political co-operation between Kosovo and Serbia, what efforts are Her Majesty’s Government making to persuade the more rational elements of Serbian politics that a settlement within a time limit is in their interests as well as everyone else’s?

Answer: My Lords, I reassure the noble Lord and others who have spoken that we have impressed upon the Kosovars themselves that they should not get ahead of the international community’s timeline. We will have to take stock of what happens on December 10 and the way forward; we want to avoid any precipitate declarations by any side about this. As for the Serbians, we have insisted that there are economic gains in their improved and future relations with Europe. Equally, however, we must be realistic that, for Serbians, this is the ultimate red line in the sand, a further reduction and dismantling of their former country. It is therefore enormously hard to find economic incentives matching the political loss which they feel they will encounter.

Secondary information