The proposed resolution on Kosovo submitted by Serbia to the U.N. General Assembly has disturbed the global public, and should the country succeed in its demand for new negotiations on the status of Kosovo a very difficult situation would be created in the Western Balkans, Gernot Erler, a foreign policy expert from the Social Democratic Party of Germany, told BETA.

Erler, from 2005 to 2009 deputy foreign minister of Germany, said in an interview about the visit of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle to the Western Balkans that permanent stability in the region was not possible without a constructive approach by Serbia to its neighbors.

Erler told BETA that the world had been shaken by Belgrade's response to the International Court of Justice's opinion on Kosovo, which had been very clear. He added that he could not say what Westerwelle would say to Serbian officials, but that many countries expected him to attempt to change Serbia's position, to achieve something, especially since he would also have talks with President Boris Tadic.

According to Erler, "there certainly is a difference between the current, conservative-liberal, and the previous, conservative-social democratic government in policies toward the Balkans."

Erler said the current government was mainly composed of conservatives, whose ranks, in addition to supporters of the Western Balkans' European integration, included those who believed that integration was going too fast. However, he went on to say, the coalition contract with the liberals confirmed the Western Balkans' European prospects, making them a binding guideline that Westerwelle would adhere to during his visit.

Erler also said he expected Westerwelle to clearly state the close ties between internal reform and readiness of countries in the region to meet the requested criteria to continue en route to the EU.

Asked if Serbia could expect entry to the EU if it did not recognize Kosovo, Erler replied that it would be speculation to say anything about the recognition of Kosovo and EU membership at a time when a date for negotiations was not set, but that there was a definite link.