SLOVAKIA AGAINST KOSOVO'S SOVEREIGNTY, MINISTER CONFIRMS
Czech News Agency - March 12, 2007 Monday

Bratislava, March 12 (CTK) - Slovakia does not support the independence of Kosovo without the consent of Serbia, Slovak Defence Minister Frantisek Kasicky told journalists after meeting his Serbian counterpart Zoran Stankovic today. "One cannot support a development due to which an ethnic minority that has its original state would claim the foundation of another state," Kasicky said, referring to the efforts by Kosovar Albanians. Stankovic said that even though Serbia is against Kosovo's independence, it wants to solve the issue by political and legal means. Stankovic is a member of the outgoing cabinet of Vojislav Kostunica that will be replaced by a new cabinet which is to be formed after the recent elections. Stankovic said the new composition of the government is to be known by the end of March. U.N. commissioner Marti Ahtisaari in February submitted his proposal for Kosovo's future setup, which in fact reckons with Kosovo's independence. Kosovar Albanians and Serbia have been negotiating about the plan, but no agreement is in the offing for the time being. Kosovar Albanian leaders insist on independence while Belgrade is only willing to accept the province's broad autonomy. kva/mr/vv

Copyright 2007 Financial Times Information
Copyright 2007 CTK Czech News Agency Source: Financial Times Information Limited
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