New Kosova Report

Czech Republic to recognise independence

Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Czech Republic

Prishtina - The Czech Republic will react to the declaration of Kosovo's independence in harmony with the other EU states, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said after meeting Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. When the right time comes, Schwarzenberg, on a visit to Kosovo, told the journalists asking him when Prague will recognise the independence of Kosovo, now a Serbian province.

Thaci reiterated that Kosovo is going to declare its independence and that this will happen "soon."

He did not specify the date.

Schwarzenberg said he and Thaci had not discussed any concrete date today.

Nevertheless, the Czech Republic expects Kosovo to become a republic soon, Schwarzenberg added.

He called it a mistake the recent statement by Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica that the EU will have to choose between close relations with Serbia and the sending of an EU mission to Kosovo, which Belgrade views as the last stage to precede Kosovo's separation.

The EU should get involved in Kosovo developments as quickly as possible, Schwarzenberg said at his joint press conference with Thaci.

He thus emphasised the importance of the EU's plan to send 1,800 civilian officials to Kosovo to replace the U.N. mission that has supervised Kosovo since 1999.

Schwarzenberg said the Czech Republic's participation in the EU mission will be of about the same extent as its participation in the U.N. KFOR mission has been so far.

Some 500 Czech soldiers operate within the KFOR mission.

Schwarzenberg, who also met Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, parliament chairman Jakup Krasniqi and U.N. mission deputy head Larry Rossin, said he expected the timing of the EU mission to be agreed upon by EU foreign ministers at their meeting in Brussels on January 28.

Schwarzenberg confirmed the Czech Republic's interest in economic cooperation with Kosovo. He named mainly mining and energy industries in this connection.

At the same time, Schwarzenberg said he is sceptical over whether the EU will manage to sign an association agreement with Serbia at the Brussels meeting.

Such an agreement is a precondition for Serbia's entry into the EU, he said, adding that the European integration of Serbia and the whole western Balkans is immensely important.

The longer it is delayed the more problems it could cause to Europe, he pointed out.

Schwarzenberg arrived in Kosovo less than a week after the newly-elected Kosovo parliament approved the coalition government of Thaci whose aim is to lead Kosovo to independence.

The Serbian government is opposed to it, while the EU is disunited on the Kosovo independence plan.

Thaci has pledged to coordinate all of his government's steps with Brussels and Washington.

This cooperation between Pristina and the EU has been working well so far, Schwarzenberg said.