With few weeks left on power, “technical” governments of Italy and Belgium speed up recognition
With only a few weeks left in power, transition governments of Italy and Belgium, have speeded up recognition of Kosovo.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, February 21, 2008
With few weeks left on power, "technical" governments of Italy and Belgium speed up recognition
With only a few weeks left in power, transition governments of Italy and Belgium, have speeded up the recognition of the secession Kosovo.
Italy recognized Kosovo on Thursday in an atmosphere of political division.
The question of Kosovo's independence "has divided the centre, because those who want to govern together Italy, that is the League and Forza Italia, are divided on a crucial issue of foreign politics", Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said.
On the question, D'Alema reminded, "the Democratic Party (PD) is united".
To a journalist who pointed out the different position in the government's Rainbow Left, D'Alema responded: "We are a single candidate to govern Italy, other than Silvio Berlusconi, who runs together with those who don't agree on the fundamental choices in this country's foreign politics".
All of the so-called Contact Group "Quint" countries - U.S., Germany, Italy, France and Britain - have now recognized Kosovo. They have been the strongest supporters of Kosovo's secession and have been responsible for the coordination of the efforts and the pressure on reluctant EU states.
The Belgian parliament also discussed the recognition of Kosovo, with Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht strongly pushing for a speedy move, despite worries by the French-speaking Walonia parties about the impact the secession might have on Flemish separatist claims.
