New Kosova Report

Canada recognizes independent Kosovo

Wednesday, 19 March 2008

Canada recognizes Kosovo

OTTAWA - Canada has officially recognized Kosovo's independence, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said Tuesday.

In response, the Serbian ambassador in Ottawa, Dusan Batakovic, has been temporarily withdrawn to Belgrade.

Bernier said Canada would "join the international community" in recognizing the sovereign independence of the Balkan republic, citing Canada's commitment under NATO and the UN to protect Kosovo.

"It's why today, in this context, that Canada acknowledge the new international reality and will recognize Kosovo as an independent state," he said.

According to Bernier, Canada wanted to ensure it fully understood the situation before making any announcement about the status of Kosovo.

"It was important for us, in the beginning, to assess the situation on the ground," he said. "It's an important decision for a country, when you have to recognize another country. We took our time and now we're ready to do it."

As for the withdrawal of the Serbian ambassador, Bernier said the move was not unexpected.

"We're not surprised about that. It's their (Serbia's) decision." he said.

The foreign affairs minister referred to Kosovo as a unique case, and denied any similarity to any claim for Quebec sovereignty.

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email This

Comments (4) add comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Burim Syla said:

	... Thank You CANADIANS for the suport. God bless you oll! Kosova deserves the independence and if serbs think a little they are better of us, and us albanians are better of them. This is the only option for peace in the region and they should accept the facts and mouve foward. I personally got touched in a family by serb crimnals but u cant look back u have to mouve foward live goes on....
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 19, 2008
Votes: +0

obergruppenfuehrer said:

	... I don't understand why the EU are not united in recognizing KOSOVO as Independent State. EU should be like one voice.EU don't want to allow individual Countries of the EU to negotiate unilateral talks with other Countries.
	report abuse vote down vote up