Portugal recognizes Kosovo

The Portuguese government has officially recognized Kosovo’s unilateral independence, says the country’s Foreign Minister Luis Amado. “It is in the interests today of the Portuguese state to officially recognize Kosovo,“ Amado told members of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs, adding that Portugal was the 22nd EU state to recognize the province. Portugal recognizes Kosovo There are now only five EU states that continue to refuse to recognize Kosovo independence: Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia. “We’re convinced that (the decision to declare) Kosovo independence can no longer be reversed,“ said the minister. Amado said that the Portuguese government’s decision would help “strengthen the links between the EU and NATO“. He added that there had been “changes in a geo-political context“ following the Russo-Georgian conflict and Moscow’s decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. “Acknowledging the legality of its decision, Russia directly acknowledged the legality of Kosovo’s independence too,“ said the minister.

Portugal recognizes Kosovo

There are now only five EU states that continue to refuse to recognize Kosovo independence: Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia.

“We’re convinced that (the decision to declare) Kosovo independence can no longer be reversed,“ said the minister.

Amado said that the Portuguese government’s decision would help “strengthen the links between the EU and NATO“. He added that there had been “changes in a geo-political context“ following the Russo-Georgian conflict and Moscow’s decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

“Acknowledging the legality of its decision, Russia directly acknowledged the legality of Kosovo’s independence too,“ said the minister.