European Union foreign ministers are seeking a united position on Kosovo in discussions on the future of the disputed Serbian province today at a meeting in Portugal.
The ministers from the 27 EU states are hearing a report from Wolfgang Ischinger, the EU representative who is working with officials from the United States and Russia to resolve the Kosovo issue.
The meeting in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, comes amid a dispute caused by Serbia's recent remarks that Belgrade could send troops into Kosovo to thwart Western recognition of the breakaway province's independence.
The European Union's Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has demanded that Serbia explain the comments, made by the Serbian secretary of state for Kosovo, Dusan Prorokovic.
Rehn, speaking in Viana do Castelo, called the remarks were "highly unfortunate," and said he expected a clarification before Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica visits Brussels next week.
Serbs and Kosovo's separatist ethnic Albanian majority are expected to soon launch a new series of talks in another bid to resolve the stalemate.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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