Slovak FM rules out recognition of Kosovo

Slovakian Foreign Minister Jan Kubis said today in Pristina that his country’s position on opposing Kosovo’s independence remained as before. “I heard very clearly President Fatmir Sejdiu’s request for recognition of Kosovo independence, while I made it clear that the position of my country’s current position is how it is,” said Kubis. Slovak FM rules out recognition of Kosovo After meeting with the Kosovo president, the Slovakian foreign minister said that Kosovo was a unique case and could not be compared to anywhere else. However, he said that a lot of time would be necessary before Slovakia recognized Kosovo’s unilateral independence, even though Bratislava has given its approval to the EU mission to the province. Kubis added that Slovakia had increased its military contingent in Kosovo, which attested to its determination over the matter. “I want to say that my country has increased its contingent within KFOR. We’ve brought over helicopters at NATO and KFOR’s request,“ said the Slovakian foreign minister. Sejdiu said that there had been discussion of the assistance Slovakia had offered the province, though he added that it was very important that that country recognize Kosovo independence. Kubis also met with Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi. Yesterday, the Slovakian foreign minister visited Kosovska Mitrovica to speak with Serb officials, including leader of the Serb List Oliver Ivanovic. Besides Ivanovic, Kubis also spoke last night with President of the Democratic Party’s (DS) provincial committee Goran Bogdanovic. “Slovakia’s principled position protects not only international law and Serbs’ rights in Kosovo, but also protects Europe from the implications such a precedent could have,” Ivanovic told FoNet today. “During the talks, it was stressed that a lot of countries that had recognized Kosovo often exhibited uncertainty and doubts in private conversations over whether they had done the right thing, because they did so under certain pressure from the U.S. and other countries,” he added. “The present situation is problematic, and we informed Kubis of this. EULEX has a serious problem with its legitimacy, and the only solution is one supported by, above all, Belgrade, but also by permanent Security Council members, Russia and China,” Ivanovic explained. The leader of the Serb list said that he thought that “such a possibility exists” and that June and July, when the Security Council will be presided by UK and the U.S., will be “months of certain additional initiatives by countries that support independence.” Ivanovic said that during his conversation with Kubis the two men had concluded that the EULEX mission had to be legitimized by a new UN resolution or by changes and annexes to Resolution 1244, with the support of Belgrade and the permanent Security Council members.

Slovak FM rules out recognition of Kosovo

After meeting with the Kosovo president, the Slovakian foreign minister said that Kosovo was a unique case and could not be compared to anywhere else.

However, he said that a lot of time would be necessary before Slovakia recognized Kosovo’s unilateral independence, even though Bratislava has given its approval to the EU mission to the province.

Kubiš added that Slovakia had increased its military contingent in Kosovo, which attested to its determination over the matter.

“I want to say that my country has increased its contingent within KFOR. We’ve brought over helicopters at NATO and KFOR’s request,“ said the Slovakian foreign minister.

Sejdiu said that there had been discussion of the assistance Slovakia had offered the province, though he added that it was very important that that country recognize Kosovo independence.

Kubiš also met with Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi.

Yesterday, the Slovakian foreign minister visited Kosovska Mitrovica to speak with Serb officials, including leader of the Serb List Oliver Ivanović.

Besides Ivanović, Kubiš also spoke last night with President of the Democratic Party’s (DS) provincial committee Goran Bogdanović.

“Slovakia’s principled position protects not only international law and Serbs’ rights in Kosovo, but also protects Europe from the implications such a precedent could have,” Ivanović told FoNet today.

“During the talks, it was stressed that a lot of countries that had recognized Kosovo often exhibited uncertainty and doubts in private conversations over whether they had done the right thing, because they did so under certain pressure from the U.S. and other countries,” he added.

“The present situation is problematic, and we informed Kubiš of this. EULEX has a serious problem with its legitimacy, and the only solution is one supported by, above all, Belgrade, but also by permanent Security Council members, Russia and China,” Ivanović explained.

The leader of the Serb list said that he thought that “such a possibility exists” and that June and July, when the Security Council will be presided by UK and the U.S., will be “months of certain additional initiatives by countries that support independence.”

Ivanović said that during his conversation with Kubiš the two men had concluded that the EULEX mission had to be legitimized by a new UN resolution or by changes and annexes to Resolution 1244, with the support of Belgrade and the permanent Security Council members.