New Kosova Report

Standard: Vienna for recognition, Madrid for delay

Thursday, 17 January 2008

Official Vienna will recognize Kosovo independence soon after declaration, whereas Madrid will try to postpone recognition date for March, states Vienna daily “Standard” on its Wednesday issue. Austria will be in the group of European Union countries that will recognize Kosovo independence without hesitation, writes the Austrian newspaper. Austrian chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer has earlier requested that Kosovo independence be tied to a UN Security Council decision, but in the last few weeks he has withdrawn from his decision, reminds the newspaper.

Chief of Austrian diplomacy, Ursula Plassnik, continuously has worked for fast track recognition of Kosovo independence, and Austria is one of the leaders of coordinated independence, along with the US, Italy, France, Germany and the Great Britain.

“At the moment the only thing still being discussed is the date. While the US and Great Britain want a fast recognition, after the second round of presidential elections in Serbia, Madrid is trying to delay this step until 9 March, after parliamentary elections in Spain,” writes Standard.