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EU could start dismantling sanctions on Yugoslavia next week |
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October 7, 2000
BRUSSELS, OCT 6 (UNB/AP) - The European Union could start dismantling its sanctions against Yugoslavia next week if the Serbian opposition manages to consolidate the success of its uprising against President Slobodan Milosevic, EU officials said Friday. "If Vojislav Kostunica takes office over this weekend then sanctions against Serbia will go on Monday when the European foreign ministers meet," British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said in an interview with London's Sky Television News. EU foreign ministers promised last month they would lift sanctions - which include an oil embargo and financial restrictions - if opposition leader Kostunica defeated Milosevic in Yugoslavia's Sept. 24 elections. The 15-nation bloc has delayed acting, however, as Milosevic refused to stand aside and instead demanded a runoff vote against Kostunica, who claims an outright victory. French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, who will chair Monday's meeting in Luxembourg, said the EU was ready to respond to an appeal from Kostunica to drop the sanctions. "I am immediately taking the necessary steps so that the 15 foreign ministers can take this decision when they meet on Monday," Vedrine said. Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief, added: " Monday ... a decision will be taken to begin the process." EU leaders welcomed Thursday's uprising by the opposition in Belgrade as a turning point in their relations with Serbia. "Europe stands ready to welcome the new Serbia with open arms," EU Commission President Romano Prodi said late Thursday. "The road to peace and reconciliation is now open, leaving violence and hatred behind." The EU imposed sanctions in response to Milosevic's repression of the opposition in Serbia and the crackdown by Yugoslav troops in Kosovo, which provoked last year's NATO bombing campaign against Serbia. Among the sanctions are a travel ban on several hundred Yugoslavs close to Milosevic's government; an oil and arms embargo; prohibition of commercial flights to and from the EU from Serbia; selected trade and financial sanctions targeted at companies and individuals linked to the Milosevic regime. The Union has been gradually relaxing the sanctions in response to requests from Serbian opposition figures. It has issued a temporary suspension of the commercial flight ban and exempted a "white list" of firms not connected to the Milosevic government from financial restrictions. Officials at the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said the EU's head office is already making the legal and technical preparations for lifting remaining sanctions.
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