EU to “acknowledge” Kosovo independence

The EU is expected to “acknowledge” Kosovo’s proclamation of independence, according to sources. However, while the EU will acknowledge that Kosovo has proclaimed independence, it will allow every individual member-state to decide on its own whether to recognize Kosovo’s independence of not, sources from Brussels have told the Beta news agency. EU to “acknowledge” Kosovo independence Such a solution for the Kosovo status question was conceived based on the case of Montenegro, which proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2006. However, officials from the EU Council of Ministers add that it is very important to see what happens within the United Nations Security Council, and that the EU is not close to such a solution as yet. Besides Cyprus, which adamantly opposes Kosovo independence as a violation of the UN charter, Spain, Romania, Slovakia and Greece may also back Serbia at the EU Foreign Ministers’ summit on Monday. Spanish Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said that “a unilateral proclamation of independence is not positive for Spain, but it will wait to see what happens.” He said that Madrid “respects international law and the unity of the EU,” but added that “violating laws has never done any good in history.” But, if the EU does reach a united stance, the adopted decision would not include the word “independence”, rather each individual member-state would be allowed to recognize Kosovo’s independence at its own discretion. The Slovenian presidency is expected to schedule an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers in February in order for EU member-states to make their opinions known, with the expectation that “twenty or so countries will quickly recognize Kosovo.” The United States will do so too, as will some Balkans neighbors and the majority of “Muslim countries.” However, the whole process could take months, which is why it is important for the EU to begin its mission in Kosovo to maintain the “rule of law,” which would, in a timeframe of 90 to 120 days replace UNMIK, thus beginning limited implementation of Martti Ahtisaari’s internationally-supervised independence plan. Sources said that while this was a probable scenario, there was a long road ahead because “finding a united stance is still required, which will have to be worked on since the situation is far from clear-cut.” Cyprus on Kosovo independence: "God forbid" The Cypriot government has confirmed in Brussels their Kosovo position - they will not agree to a secession and recognition of Kosovo, they will not change their stand even in case of negative reactions by other EU member states, government spokesman Vassilis Palmas said yesterday. "God forbid that Cyprus should agree, even if the rest of the EU decides to recognize the independence of Kosovo, even if there are reactions to our behavior," the Cypriot News Agency (CAN) quoted Palmas as saying. If Cyprus agrees on Kosovo's secession, Palmas explained, the unilateral way that Pristina pursues would cause problems to the Cyprus case. He stressed that the Cypriot government believes that any settlement should be based on international law and UN Security Council decisions concerning secessionist acts. He pointed out that the stand of the Republic of Cyprus is of principle and in keeping with international law, adding that "international laws and principles are very important for small countries". Speaking about Kosovo's independence, Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis stated in Brussels on Monday that it is "unthinkable to believe that Cyprus will agree to anything that would undermine international law". "It is unthinkable that we will agree to anything that would undermine international law that we have known for the past 60 years, during the existence of the United Nations and other international organizations," the CAN quoted Kozakou-Marcoullis as saying. Commenting on her country's stand on Kosovo, Kozakou-Marcoullis clarified that Cyprus bases its foreign policy and existence on international law, the role of the UN Security Council and UN resolutions.

EU to “acknowledge” Kosovo independence

Such a solution for the Kosovo status question was conceived based on the case of Montenegro, which proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2006.

However, officials from the EU Council of Ministers add that it is very important to see what happens within the United Nations Security Council, and that the EU is not close to such a solution as yet.

Besides Cyprus, which adamantly opposes Kosovo independence as a violation of the UN charter, Spain, Romania, Slovakia and Greece may also back Serbia at the EU Foreign Ministers’ summit on Monday.

Spanish Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said that “a unilateral proclamation of independence is not positive for Spain, but it will wait to see what happens.”

He said that Madrid “respects international law and the unity of the EU,” but added that “violating laws has never done any good in history.”

But, if the EU does reach a united stance, the adopted decision would not include the word “independence”, rather each individual member-state would be allowed to recognize Kosovo’s independence at its own discretion.

The Slovenian presidency is expected to schedule an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers in February in order for EU member-states to make their opinions known, with the expectation that “twenty or so countries will quickly recognize Kosovo.”

The United States will do so too, as will some Balkans neighbors and the majority of “Muslim countries.”

However, the whole process could take months, which is why it is important for the EU to begin its mission in Kosovo to maintain the “rule of law,” which would, in a timeframe of 90 to 120 days replace UNMIK, thus beginning limited implementation of Martti Ahtisaari’s internationally-supervised independence plan.

Sources said that while this was a probable scenario, there was a long road ahead because “finding a united stance is still required, which will have to be worked on since the situation is far from clear-cut.”

Cyprus on Kosovo independence: "God forbid"

The Cypriot government has confirmed in Brussels their Kosovo position - they will not agree to a secession and recognition of Kosovo, they will not change their stand even in case of negative reactions by other EU member states, government spokesman Vassilis Palmas said yesterday.

"God forbid that Cyprus should agree, even if the rest of the EU decides to recognize the independence of Kosovo, even if there are reactions to our behavior," the Cypriot News Agency (CAN) quoted Palmas as saying.

If Cyprus agrees on Kosovo's secession, Palmas explained, the unilateral way that Priština pursues would cause problems to the Cyprus case.

He stressed that the Cypriot government believes that any settlement should be based on international law and UN Security Council decisions concerning secessionist acts.

He pointed out that the stand of the Republic of Cyprus is of principle and in keeping with international law, adding that "international laws and principles are very important for small countries".

Speaking about Kosovo's independence, Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis stated in Brussels on Monday that it is "unthinkable to believe that Cyprus will agree to anything that would undermine international law".

"It is unthinkable that we will agree to anything that would undermine international law that we have known for the past 60 years, during the existence of the United Nations and other international organizations," the CAN quoted Kozakou-Marcoullis as saying.

Commenting on her country's stand on Kosovo, Kozakou-Marcoullis clarified that Cyprus bases its foreign policy and existence on international law, the role of the UN Security Council and UN resolutions.