Ireland recognizes Kosovo; Slovenia, Montenegro wait

The Irish government recognized Kosovo Albanians' unilateral independence today. Ireland has become the 22nd country to do so.Slovenia says it will discuss the matter on March 5. Ireland recognizes Kosovo; Slovenia, Montenegro wait Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Aherne said that the cabinet had decided unanimously to accept the Kosovo assembly's decision Serbia sees as illegal. Aherne added that this step should not be viewed as an "act of enmity towards Serbia," reports AP. The Slovenian parliament has decided to discuss the matter of recognition Kosovo independence at an emergency session on March 5. The conclusion of a government proposal sent to parliament earlier was rejected, as it did not meet the legal conditions for inclusion at the following session. As a result, the parliament was not expected to decide on the matter until its next session at the end of March. However, Slovenian Speaker France Cukjati scheduled the emergency session for Wednesday, as, according to him, Slovenian MPs have a lot of work next week, and Wednesday is “the least inconvenient day,” reports Slovenian web portal 24ur.com. Meanwhile, Germany and the EU will not pressure Montenegro into recognizing Kosovo independence, said German Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Gernot Erler in Podgorica today. “That decision is up to your politicians, but I can understand your reluctance ahead of presidential elections. Other countries in the region are showing reluctance too,” said Erler after talks with high-ranking Montenegrin officials. The German official said that it would be tragic if Serbia slowed its own path to the EU because of Kosovo, and added that he hoped that Montenegro, as a neighbor of Kosovo and Serbia, would deter Belgrade from the path of self-isolation. “Without Serbia’s pro-European path, there will be no development throughout the western Balkans,” he stressed. Erler said that during talks yesterday on the region with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, the issue of Serbia’s European integration was compared to a train carrying a locomotive. “The locomotive is Serbia. That locomotive is no longer going forward, and there is a chance that it will go in the wrong direction,” said the German diplomat, adding that the EU was keen for Serbia to move towards Europe, but that this depended on her politicians.

Ireland recognizes Kosovo; Slovenia, Montenegro wait

Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Aherne said that the cabinet had decided unanimously to accept the Kosovo assembly's decision Serbia sees as illegal.

Aherne added that this step should not be viewed as an "act of enmity towards Serbia," reports AP.

The Slovenian parliament has decided to discuss the matter of recognition Kosovo independence at an emergency session on March 5.

The conclusion of a government proposal sent to parliament earlier was rejected, as it did not meet the legal conditions for inclusion at the following session.

As a result, the parliament was not expected to decide on the matter until its next session at the end of March.

However, Slovenian Speaker France Cukjati scheduled the emergency session for Wednesday, as, according to him, Slovenian MPs have a lot of work next week, and Wednesday is “the least inconvenient day,” reports Slovenian web portal 24ur.com.

Meanwhile, Germany and the EU will not pressure Montenegro into recognizing Kosovo independence, said German Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Gernot Erler in Podgorica today.

“That decision is up to your politicians, but I can understand your reluctance ahead of presidential elections. Other countries in the region are showing reluctance too,” said Erler after talks with high-ranking Montenegrin officials.

The German official said that it would be tragic if Serbia slowed its own path to the EU because of Kosovo, and added that he hoped that Montenegro, as a neighbor of Kosovo and Serbia, would deter Belgrade from the path of self-isolation.

“Without Serbia’s pro-European path, there will be no development throughout the western Balkans,” he stressed.

Erler said that during talks yesterday on the region with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, the issue of Serbia’s European integration was compared to a train carrying a locomotive.

“The locomotive is Serbia. That locomotive is no longer going forward, and there is a chance that it will go in the wrong direction,” said the German diplomat, adding that the EU was keen for Serbia to move towards Europe, but that this depended on her politicians.