Serbia's neighbours recognise Kosovo

Wednesday 19 March 2008

Bulgaria, Hungary and Croatia became Serbia's first neighbours to recognise the state of Kosovo, bringing the total to 32 nations. (Report: A.Roy)

Wednesday 19 March 2008

By AFP

Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary recognised Kosovo's independence on Wednesday in a new blow to Serbia's efforts to resist the province's breakaway.

Serbia immediately warned its three neighbours that their relations with Belgrade would suffer for joining the growing list of nations giving diplomatic support to Kosovo.

Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary announced their move in a joint statement. "The decision on the recognition of Kosovo is based on thorough consideration," the three countries said.

Thirty-two countries have now recognised Kosovo's independence, which the Serbian province's ethnic Albanian-dominated parliament unilaterally declared on February 17.

It comes two days after the worst violence in Kosovo since the proclamation, which is bitterly opposed by the Belgrade government and Kosovo Serbs, who are outnumbered by ethnic Albanians by more than nine to one.

A UN policeman was killed and more than 150 people wounded in the flashpoint northern town of Kosovska Mitrovica on Monday in clashes between international security forces and anti-independence Serbs.

Budapest and Zagreb were to formalise their recognition after cabinet meetings on Wednesday, with Sofia due to make an official announcement on Thursday.

"The declaration of independence of Kosovo came after the failure of all the efforts of the international community to find a negotiated solution between Belgrade and Pristina on the status of Kosovo," the joint statement said.

"In these circumstances the change of the unsustainable status quo was unavoidable," it added.

Serbia's neighbours want to ensure stability in the Balkans and give Serbia and other countries, including Croatia, hope for their future integration in the European Union, which Bulgaria and Hungary have already joined.

"The three countries express their interest in developing ties with a Serbia that maintains good relations with its neighbours, enjoys economic growth and keeps its European orientation," the statement said.

But Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic gave a frosty reaction.

"Every country that makes this move cannot count on good relations with us," Jeremic said on a trip to Athens. "Every country that recognizes the illegal state of Kosovo violates inyernational law."

Kosovo, which Serbs consider a cradle of their civilization, has been under UN administration since 1999 when NATO intervened to stop Belgrade's crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.

Croatia's recognition, the second by a former Yugoslav republic after Slovenia, is expected to be the most sensitive, as it threatens to harm delicate post-war ties between the two neighbours.

Ahead of the announcement, Serbian President Boris Tadic warned Croatia against the move, saying it would have an "immediate impact on our bilateral ties".

Belgrade, which has so far recalled ambassadors from 29 countries that accepted Kosovo's independence, was yet to announce any response to the latest recognitions.

"Belgrade is in a very awkward position ... due to the fact there is a Serb minority in Croatia," said Croatian political analyst Davor Gjenero.

Relations between Croatia and Serbia have gradually improved since the end of their 1991-1995 war sparked by Zagreb's declaration of independence from communist Yugoslavia.

Kosovo's independence has been recognised by the United States and most of the EU, including Britain, France and Germany.

Serbia has been backed by traditional ally Russia in opposing independence.

It is also supported by EU states Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia and Spain, which along with several other countries including China fear the move could encourage separatists at home.