PRISTINA — Europe’s biggest states recognized the independence of Kosovo yesterday, ending hours of suspense after Prime Minister Hashim Thaci assured his new republic that Western recognition would come “any minute”.
France was first to announce its move after European Union foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, a great relief for Pristina.
Britain and Italy followed minutes later and Germany said it and a majority of EU states would recognize a democratic Kosovo.
The smooth response Thaci had expected from the EU and the United States was tripped up earlier, when EU member Spain broke ranks to say “no”.
The US also recognized Kosovo yesterday and said independence from Serbia for the majority Albanian province was the only “viable option” to keep the region stable.
“The United States has formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement.
But the first word from Brussels had been a disappointment for Kosovo, though a ray of relief for Serbia.
“The government of Spain will not recognize the unilateral act proclaimed by the assembly of Kosovo,” Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told reporters.
“We will not recognize because we consider ... this does not respect international law,” said the minister, whose country is grappling with separatist movements of its own.
Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania have indicated they too are not keen to recognize Kosovo. Afghanistan officially greeted the new Balkan state, but Vietnam and Azerbaijan said they would not recognize it. Kosovo confidently expects recognition from up to 100 other governments.
There was no shortage of protest by Serbs against the unilateral secession of the southern province, run by the United Nations and NATO for the past nine years.
Serbs protested against Kosovo’s secession for a second day in Belgrade, in their Kosovo stronghold of Mitrovica, and in isolated Serb enclaves in central Kosovo.
Several thousand turned out for the rallies, which remained peaceful. Serbs in the Bosnian Serb capital Banja Luka also demonstrated, shouting, “Kill the Albanians!”
The EU appealed for calm after Serb nationalist protesters stoned Western embassies in Belgrade on Sunday night.
OIC Declares Support
The Jeddah-based Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) declared complete solidarity with the people of Kosovo.
OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said: “Kosovo has declared independence after a long and determined struggle by its people. As we rejoice at this happy result, we declare our solidarity with and support to our brothers and sisters there. The Ummah wishes them success in their battle for building a strong and prosperous state.”
According to Ihsanoglu, an independent Kosovo would be an asset to the Muslim world. “It will further enhance the joint Islamic action,” he added.
— With input from agencies
