A chance we can't miss

The sharp differences that have emerged between Serbia and some EU governments over the future of Kosovo should be a matter of regret for all concerned. This was not Serbia's choice and it remains our position that the declaration of independence and decisions to recognize it are illegal.

At the same time, we must continue engaging with one another for the sake of both the short and long-term stability of the region. To do that, we must work together to prevent the rift from becoming permanent and irreparable. Further mistakes at this tense moment could take years or even decades to put right. There is a duty of leadership on all of us to stop that from happening and to find a way forward in the spirit of mutual respect and sensitivity.

While engaged in a diplomatic battle to preserve our sovereignty and territorial integrity, Serbia will continue to act as a constructive force for peace in the western Balkans. Nothing must be done to destabilize the situation or add to the tensions already caused by Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.

To that end, we believe it is vital that the United Nations remains actively engaged according to the terms of Security Council Resolution 1244.

In addition to cooperating on security and humanitarian issues, we must begin to lay the foundations for a mutually acceptable long-term solution. I am convinced that the best place to pursue this is within the framework of the European Union. European integration has made a remarkable contribution to the peace and prosperity of the Continent, not least in dissolving ancient rivalries and uniting Europeans behind a common enterprise based on shared values.

We know from experience that integration can create a positive dynamic in favor of agreement and reconciliation, even in places where they once seemed impossible. The more hopeless the situation appears, the more important it is to keep dialogue and cooperation open. Future agreement will be easier to achieve if all of Serbia - including Kosovo - moves in unison towards the common destination of EU membership. With that in mind, it is important that Serbia's European future is irreversibly confirmed so that the EU becomes a new focus of unity in the western Balkans rather than a further source of division.

The most significant element of this is provided by the Stability and Association Agreement, initialed by Serbia and the EU last year and awaiting final signature. Once it has been adopted and ratified, this agreement will formalize Serbia's accession status and put us on a direct path to full membership.

It is essential that progress towards that goal does not become blocked by the maximalist demands that make progress and agreement less likely. There are people on both sides willing to allow emotion to triumph over sound judgement when it comes to this issue. They must not be permitted to set the terms of debate.

There is no successful future for Serbia in isolation from the rest of Europe. And there can be no stability and security for the western Balkans without the cooperation of a democratic Serbia. We need to appreciate our interdependence and work to help one another.

Serbia's only request is to be treated on the same basis as other EU aspirants and not singled out in a discriminatory fashion. The EU, quite sensibly, did not shun Cyprus because of long-standing differences with Turkey. Instead, it has used the opportunities created by the accession process to open new routes to progress and agreement between the two countries. This has improved relations in the region.

A similar point must be made concerning the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague. We are willing to meet our obligations in full, but we cannot accept double standards - especially in light of the scandalous acquittal of Ramush Haradinaj, a Kosovo Albanian we regard as a war criminal.

The precedent is clear: Croatia's Stability and Association Agreement was signed before all Hague tribunal indictees within the country had been handed over. That gesture by the EU resulted in an outcome advantageous to all parties. When it comes to Serbia, the only interest groups to benefit from taking a different approach now would be those who wish to block our European integration and stop all cooperation with the tribunal. That is not in the interests of either Serbia or the EU.

Serbian politics has reached a critical turning point. The approaching parliamentary elections will be the most important since October 2000. They will define our course for the years ahead. The choice is clearer than ever before: a country committed to full EU membership, or one withdrawing into political and economic isolation.

The only doubt is whether it is genuinely on offer. That is why the time is right for Serbia and the EU to sign the Stability and Association Agreement. Such a confident statement in favor of Serbia's European future would go a long way to building trust and guaranteeing the security and progress of the whole region. It is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

Vuk Jeremic is minister of foreign affairs of the Federal Republic of Serbia.