Organizers drop idea to have Kosovo with "state symbols"

Polish organizers of a conference scheduled for later this month have decided not to represent Kosovo with "any state symbols". Faced with what was described as Slovakian President Ivan Gasparovic's "very serious intention not to travel to the summit", the organizers moved to meet his conditions regarding the presence of Kosovo Albanian officials. Organizers drop idea to have Kosovo with "state symbols" The conditions were that there should be no display of "state symbols of an independent Kosovo or the use of the term 'Republic of Kosovo'." At the same time, the summit will not adopt any declarations that would also be signed by Kosovo President Atifeta Jahjaga. All this was revealed today in Bratislava by Gasparovic's spokesman Marek Trubac. Recalling that Slovakia supports Serbia and views Kosovo as a part of Serbia's territory, Trubac explained in a statement for Tanjug news agency that "the fact that Jahjaga was invited to the summit was an obstacle to Slovakia's participation, however, the problem was resolved when Poland accepted Slovakia's proposal". Earlier, Polish media reported that both Slovakia and Romania would boycott the gathering over the planned treatment of Kosovo - a territory which the two countries do not recognize as independent. Meantime, it was confirmed in Belgrade that President Boris Tadic will not take part in the summit of the countries of Central and Southeastern Europe in Warsaw. The reason for boycotting the May 27-28 gathering in Poland is that Kosovo "will not be presented asymmetrically". “Serbian President Boris Tadic will not take part in the summit in Warsaw because Kosovo will not be presented asymmetrically compared to other participants, which is necessary at such high-level meetings,” the president's cabinet confirmed on Tuesday in Belgrade. Such a move is in keeping with the decision of the Serbian government and UNSC Resolution 1244, and steps taken by the Serbian president have to be in line with those documents, Tanjug learned at Tadic's cabinet. Romania and Slovakia informed the organizers of the Warsaw summit that they would not take part in an event in which senior officials of Kosovo had also been invited to participate, an adviser to the Polish president, Roman Kuznjar, told Poland's national radio broadcasting organization Polish Radio. In explaining the reason for such a decision, the Polish media recalled that Romania and Slovakia had not recognized the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo and Metohija, which was at odds with the fact that Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga had been invited to attend the summit. Kuznjar said that Poland understood Slovakia's and Romania's decision, but noted that there was no reason why Warsaw should not invite a representative or the president of Kosovo to the summit. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski pointed out that Poland had recognized Kosovo's independence, an explanation for the appropriateness of inviting “the country's leader” to participate in the summit. Polish officials also earlier denied reports that the invitation to the Kosovo Albanian official "came under U.S. pressure". About ten or so heads of state will be present at the summit, with U.S. President Barack Obama expected to attend as a special guest. Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence more than three years ago, but Serbia rejected this proclamation.

Organizers drop idea to have Kosovo with "state symbols"

The conditions were that there should be no display of "state symbols of an independent Kosovo or the use of the term 'Republic of Kosovo'."

At the same time, the summit will not adopt any declarations that would also be signed by Kosovo President Atifeta Jahjaga.

All this was revealed today in Bratislava by Gašparovič's spokesman Marek Trubač.

Recalling that Slovakia supports Serbia and views Kosovo as a part of Serbia's territory, Trubač explained in a statement for Tanjug news agency that "the fact that Jahjaga was invited to the summit was an obstacle to Slovakia's participation, however, the problem was resolved when Poland accepted Slovakia's proposal".

Earlier, Polish media reported that both Slovakia and Romania would boycott the gathering over the planned treatment of Kosovo - a territory which the two countries do not recognize as independent.

Meantime, it was confirmed in Belgrade that President Boris Tadić will not take part in the summit of the countries of Central and Southeastern Europe in Warsaw.

The reason for boycotting the May 27-28 gathering in Poland is that Kosovo "will not be presented asymmetrically".

“Serbian President Boris Tadić will not take part in the summit in Warsaw because Kosovo will not be presented asymmetrically compared to other participants, which is necessary at such high-level meetings,” the president's cabinet confirmed on Tuesday in Belgrade.

Such a move is in keeping with the decision of the Serbian government and UNSC Resolution 1244, and steps taken by the Serbian president have to be in line with those documents, Tanjug learned at Tadić's cabinet.

Romania and Slovakia informed the organizers of the Warsaw summit that they would not take part in an event in which senior officials of Kosovo had also been invited to participate, an adviser to the Polish president, Roman Kuznjar, told Poland's national radio broadcasting organization Polish Radio.

In explaining the reason for such a decision, the Polish media recalled that Romania and Slovakia had not recognized the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo and Metohija, which was at odds with the fact that Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga had been invited to attend the summit.

Kuznjar said that Poland understood Slovakia's and Romania's decision, but noted that there was no reason why Warsaw should not invite a representative or the president of Kosovo to the summit.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski pointed out that Poland had recognized Kosovo's independence, an explanation for the appropriateness of inviting “the country's leader” to participate in the summit.

Polish officials also earlier denied reports that the invitation to the Kosovo Albanian official "came under U.S. pressure".

About ten or so heads of state will be present at the summit, with U.S. President Barack Obama expected to attend as a special guest.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence more than three years ago, but Serbia rejected this proclamation.