India against Kosovo’s secession, Prague pressured to reconsider its opposition
India supports the territorial integrity of Serbia and a compromise, negotiated solution for Kosovo, Indian ambassador to Belgrade Adzar Svarup said.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, March 31, 2008
"India's stance, as far as Kosovo is concerned, has always been consistent: sovereignty and territorial integrity of every country must be fully respected by all other countries", he said.
„We believed that the problem of Kosovo could have been resolved in a peaceful manner, through dialogue and consultations. Such a stand has been unchanged since 1999, when India had supported UN Resolution 1244 which ended the war ... we have always believed in peaceful solutions because there are no problems which cannot be resolved through consultations and dialogue", Svarup said.
Meanwhile, in Prague, the Czech government is under renewed pressure from Brussels and Washington to recognize Kosovo's secession before this week's NATO summit.
The Czech government last week postponed the discussion on Kosovo as it became clear that the majority of the cabinet was opposed to recognition of Pristina's secession.
However, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said he will submit to the government on Wednesday a proposal for the recognition of Kosovo, but he said he will not insist on a decision to be made right on the same day.
Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, however, has said he wants to persuade ministers to recognise Kosovo independence on Wednesday already.
"We do not have another chance, but to do it now. And it is better than if we did it on the eve of Serbian elections," Topolanek said.
Alexandr Vondra, deputy prime minister for European affairs, said the Czech government will probably recognise Kosovo independence.
"We will not be dancing with joy, it is clear, but we are political realists," Vondra said.
He also reminded that the failure to recognise Kosovo might threaten the Czech soldiers in the region and weaken the position of the Czech Republic in the EU.
The junior government Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) say the Czech Republic should not yet recognise Kosovo's independence.
Czech president Vaclav Klaus, as well as the opposition Social Democrats and Communists are against independent Kosovo.
