Belgrade, October 2, 2013
Washington and Brussels boost pressures on five EU member states that have not recognized Kosovo’s independence to change their attitude, and in the last weeks under attack are particularly Greece and Romania, writes Serbian daily “Novosti”.
EU flag
This is why Belgrade activated all of its political and diplomatic mechanisms to stop the wave of the new recognitions of Pristina, which would certainly ensue if any of the five countries would “yield”.
This confirmed Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic for “Novosti”, who has been in an official visit to Athens last week with one of the main goals to persuade Greek friends to remain consistent in their politics toward Kosovo and Metohija.
“I told Prime Minister Samaras that it is very important that Greece does not change its position not to recognize Kosovo, because this can be a precedent for changing politics of other countries.”
According to information obtained by “Novosti”, official Athens has already sent signals that their “line of defence” is not so solid anymore, and not just because of the economic dependence of the leading EU countries, who are also promoters of Kosovo’s independence. Greece does not look favorably on the strengthening of relations between Serbia and Macedonia, which Greece does not recognize.
President of the Parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun said for “Novosti” that currently the strongest positions are of Spain and Cyprus, which successfully resist pressures.
Predrag Simic, professor of the international law, explains that Bucharest and Athens are currently “most appropriate” for pressures, due to economic difficulties they have:
“Brussels agreement greatly changed the reality in the field and many countries that have not recognized Kosovo wonder if they have more damage or use if they continue defending Serbian interests, stronger than Serbia itself.
The Embassies of the countries that have not recognized Kosovo:
Spain
“Spain’s principled position is not to recognize Kosovo’s independence and it will not change. Our Foreign Minister Magali stressed that we will not recognize Kosovo until Serbia accepts it,” said the Spanish Ambassador Arturo Beltran Laclaustra.
Slovakia
“Slovakia’s position, which does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, has not changed. This has been confirmed once again during the recent meeting of Slovak and Serbian officials,” says the Slovakian Embassy in Belgrade.
Romania
“Bucharest has not changed its policy towards Kosovo’s independence, which we do not recognize. We remind you that this spring our parliament discussed the issue, but there is no deadline by which the Parliament should declare again whether it keeps the attitude or will change it.”
