Romania won't recognize unilateral Kosovo moves

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac met his Romanian counterpart Teodor Melescanu in Belgrade Tuesday. Melescanu said after the meeting that his country's parliament would not recognize a unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence. Romania won't recognize unilateral Kosovo moves "A unilateral decision could have a very negative effect on the entire region and is not in keeping with international law," Melescanu told a joint news conference with Sutanovac. Commenting different views among the EU members on the future status of Kosovo, he stated that "Romania will try to have its stand prevail". Melescanu explained that Bucharest has a clear stand on the issue, that the future status of Kosovo should be determined through negotiations and be acceptable to both sides, and to the United Nations. "I believe that recognizing any unilateral decision will be up to each of the member states' parliaments. Judging by what I know about the Romanian parliament, I do not believe that Romania will be one of the countries to recognize a unilaterally declared Kosovo independence," he explained. Melescanu and Sutanovac agreed that Kosovo is the region's hot spot and that the issue of its future status should be resolved through talks and with a solution that would satisfy both sides. Sutanovac expressed gratitude to Romania for allocating funds and deploying troops with KFOR peacekeepers in the province. The two ministers also agreed that military cooperation between their two countries is at a high level and of a high quality. Sutanovac and Melescanu agreed to continue promoting bilateral cooperation in the next year. The Serbian defense chief has also received an invitation to visit Bucharest. Melescanu, Sutanovac speak to reporters in Belgrade (Tanjug)

Romania won't recognize unilateral Kosovo moves

"A unilateral decision could have a very negative effect on the entire region and is not in keeping with international law," Melescanu told a joint news conference with Šutanovac.

Commenting different views among the EU members on the future status of Kosovo, he stated that "Romania will try to have its stand prevail".

Melescanu explained that Bucharest has a clear stand on the issue, that the future status of Kosovo should be determined through negotiations and be acceptable to both sides, and to the United Nations.

"I believe that recognizing any unilateral decision will be up to each of the member states' parliaments. Judging by what I know about the Romanian parliament, I do not believe that Romania will be one of the countries to recognize a unilaterally declared Kosovo independence," he explained.

Melescanu and Šutanovac agreed that Kosovo is the region's hot spot and that the issue of its future status should be resolved through talks and with a solution that would satisfy both sides.

Šutanovac expressed gratitude to Romania for allocating funds and deploying troops with KFOR peacekeepers in the province.

The two ministers also agreed that military cooperation between their two countries is at a high level and of a high quality.

Šutanovac and Melescanu agreed to continue promoting bilateral cooperation in the next year. The Serbian defense chief has also received an invitation to visit Bucharest.