New Kosova Report

Independence to be declared on 17 February - enters into force in March

Monday, 11 February 2008

Advertising billboard in Kosovo

The most influential Kosovo daily Koha Ditore reported over the weekend that some unnamed diplomatic sources from EU and NATO countries reconfirmed on Friday that it is "almost certain" that Kosovo Assembly will declare independence on 17 February, but it will enter into force in March. The same sourced added that the period in between will be used to approve laws from Ahtisaari's package, to approve the constitution, and to carry out the necessary procedures for the countries to recognise independence.

"A state will be recognised by another state when they set diplomatic relations, while there will be no sole act of formal recognition," an unnamed diplomat told the paper, adding that "the declaration of independence on 17 February and its entrance into force on 10 March may make sense."

Many EU countries are expected to make "Declarations of intents", among them main countries like Great Britain, France and Germany. The paper further writes that some countries "will not rush", but the number of the states that publicly say they cannot recognise independence is smaller than the number being speculated in the media.