Gaining acceptance

 

 

In a move that will provide the much needed breathing space to landlocked Kosovo, Serbia's immediate neighbours Hungary, Bulgaria and Croatia have formally recognised Kosovo's independence. In a combined declaration issued concurrently in Budapest, Sofia and Zagreb, the respective regimes made it categorically apparent that they foresee no tangible option other than recognising Kosovo as an independent sovereign state. The three countries claimed that their decision was in view of the international community's failure to come to a mutually acceptable solution between Belgrade and Pristina on the status of Kosovo and Albanian Muslims; and also stressed that they wish to maintain good relations with Serbia and assist it in every possible way, in due course join the EU. The EU has before now presented Serbia a cooperation accord, yet to be signed by Serbia.

Kosovo's ethnic-Albanian leadership affirmed independence from Serbia last month, notwithstanding furious antagonism from Serbia, Russia and Kosovo's minority Serbs. Reacting to the latest recognitions, Borut Grgic, director of the Institute for Strategic Studies in Ljubljana and celebrated Balkan expert told TSI: “Grandiloquent political opinions apart, Balkans are ultimately liberated of the question regarding Kosovo status. Self-rule is irrevocable since here on, Europe and its constituents are at absolute freedom to plan consequently, which means now is the occasion for a bona fide European standpoint for the Balkan countries. The next EU scheme for the region is a European Marshall Plan.” Meanwhile, experts believe that Croatia's shift could have added grave repercussions in the Balkans. Croatia and Serbia have a history of conflicts, following their 1991-95 war. The diplomatic recognition of Kosovo could reignite old enmity. Similar worries are expressed regarding Hungarian recognition as some 300,000 people of Hungarian descent reside in Serbia and officials in Budapest fear that Hungary's recognition of Kosovo will provoke attacks against them.