Prague puts Kosovo recognition off agenda
The Czech government has decided to put off the agenda a decision to recognize Kosovo’s secession – originally planned for April 2 – as it realized that only five out of 18 members of cabinet were favoring such decision.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Wednesday, March 26, 2008
"If we were voting on Kosovo today, it would not be recognized", Czech Prime Minister Miroslav Topolanek said.
In the cabinet, four ministers and the vice-Prime minister for European integrations Alexander Vondra are favoring recognition, eight are resolutely against, and the remaining have reservations about it.
Czech foreign minister Karel Scharzenberg, who had masterminded plans for Prague's move, has expressed disappointment and said this could undermine Czech participation in the so-called "International Steering Group" - a group of countries dubbed "friends of independent Kosovo", which aim is to unilaterally implement the Ahtisaari plan.
"I am not ready to raise my hand to recognize Kosovo", Finance minister Miroslav Kalousek of the Christian-Democratic Party said.
His party colleague and former chief of diplomacy Cyril Svoboda said Prague should carefully watch over the Kosovo develoments before taking a decision.
« There would be no turning back. I suggest that the reconsider all the consequences and wait with a recognition", Svoboda said.
Several ministers in Prime Minister Topolanek's Civic Democratic party are also resisting the move, in particular since its founder and Czech president Vaclav Klaus has become one of the leading opponents of Kosovo's secession.
The opposition is also clearly rejecting Kosovo's secession.
" I am against. I believe it is a great mistake of the international community and the EU", Labour minister Petr Necas said.
