Neighbors' recognition of Kosovo deals a blow to Serbia
BELGRADE - Serbia's neighbors in Croatia, Hungary, and Bulgaria dealt a blow to the Serb campaign to overturn Kosovo's month-old independence yesterday by announcing they would recognize the new republic.
In a joint statement issued in Zagreb, Budapest, and Sofia, they said the decision was based on "thorough consideration." They also underlined the importance of protecting the Serb minority in Kosovo's 90 percent ethnic Albanian republic.
"The government has made a decision to recognize Kosovo," Prime Minister Ivo Sanader of Croatia told reporters.
"I do understand this is a difficult one for Serbia to swallow. That's one of the reasons we have waited until now. But I don't expect a worsening of political and economic relations because there is no alternative to good neighborly relations."
The Croatia mission in Belgrade, near the US embassy that was attacked and burned by Serb protesters last month, was closed for the day behind new steel shutters.
Some Bulgarian families who worried about security left Serbia, diplomatic sources said.
Police protection at the embassies was at normal levels when the news report was broadcast in Serbia.
A Hungarian diplomatic source said there was concern in Budapest about potential attacks on the ethnic Hungarian minority of some 300,000 in the northern province of Vojvodina.
"Unfortunately, it can happen [but] independent Kosovo is a reality and recognition cannot be avoided," he said.
Serbia's pro-Western foreign minister, Vuk Jeremic, acknowledged the neighbors' decision "with sadness."
"Countries that take this decision cannot have good ties with Serbia," he said in Greece, a traditional ally that has not recognized Kosovo.
Canada announced recognition on Tuesday, reiterating the Western case that forcing its 2 million Albanians to rejoin Serbia after nine years under United Nations rule is not a viable option. More than 30 countries have now recognized Kosovo.
Serbia's pro-Western president, Boris Tadic, said this week that ties with Croatia would suffer further. Serbs and Croats fought a war from 1991 to 1995 over the breakup of Yugoslavia.
"We want to have the best possible relations with this country," Tadic said. "But recognition of Kosovo is certainly not an act of goodwill between neighbors."
