The Prague Post Online: News: Czechs formally recognize Kosovo

December 5th, 2008

Endowment Fund Business Listings ONLINE Reservations Classifieds

Gift Subscriptions

Prague Property

Czechs formally recognize Kosovo

Social Democrats, Communists say they weren't consulted

By Ondřej Bouda
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
May 28th, 2008 issue

The government’s decision to formally recognize the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo has created deep divisions both at home and abroad. The move, agreed on at a May 21 meeting in Teplice, was intended to reaffirm the Czech Republic’s active policy in the western Balkans and to work toward stability and democratic development in the region, according to Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek. The current Czech mission to Kosovo will be converted into an embassy, and its head, Janina Hřebíčková, is expected to become the first Czech ambassador to the new country.

“We have to deal with the situation and accept reality as it is, especially since we have more than 500 soldiers in the area,” Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg told journalists after the meeting.

Serbia reacted to the decision by recalling its ambassador in Prague, Vladimir Vereš. Before leaving for Belgrade, Vereš accepted a May 23 invitation to meet with President Václav Klaus — himself a strong critic of Kosovo recognition. Klaus expressed regret over the deteriorating relationship between the countries and said he hoped that friendly ties could be restored in the future, according to a press release issued by Klaus’ office. Vereš commented that the Czech decision was a more personal affront than those decisions issued earlier from the Finns, Dutch and Germans.

The opposition Social Democrats and Communists are angered by the recognition of Kosovo and demand a suspension of the decision, citing the fact that the government did not consult them on the issue as had previously been promised.

“Kosovo’s declared independence breaches UN resolutions and is not supported by the Security Council,” said Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia Chairman Vojtěch Filip. “By recognizing such a country, the Czech Republic is undermining fundamental principles of international law, security and cooperation in Europe.”

Christian Democratic Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Jiří Čunek expressed anger over the fact that the issue had been added to the meeting agenda at the last moment. “We found out only a day in advance that Kosovo recognition was going to be on the table,” he told the daily Právo. “We respect the government decision but disagree with it.”

Because coalition Christian Democrats are also against the decision, it is possible Parliament could block Kosovo recognition.

Ondřej Bouda can be reached at obouda@praguepost.com

Reader's comments:

add your comment

[17:36 29/05/2008] : Once again, the Czech puppets do whatever their puppet-masters in Washington tell them to do.

Margot Winston
Prague

[03:43 02/06/2008] : I agree with Margot, and can't wait to leave the Fascist United States behind. It makes me sick.
Kosovo is Serbia.

Eirik Moyer
Manchester, Fascist usa

[22:17 06/06/2008] : Kosovo has been under United Nations rule for 10 years. Worry about U.N. rule, guys! Oh yeah, after the Olympics, look for the Chinese to move. As if the United States
is so big and bad and running the world. Ha!

Mike Mango
Kenilworth, NJ

Note: Comments that include profanity, personal attacks or any other inappropriate material are prohibited.

Add your comment

Most e-mailed articles
Glass company declared bankrupt State pushes fish as healthy, tasty choice 10 Questions

Related articles
Deprivation dining

Most visited in Business Listings

The Prague Post Online contains a selection of articles that have been printed in
The Prague Post, a weekly newspaper published in the Czech Republic.
To subscribe to the print paper, click here.
Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.