Berlin distances itself from US threats to recognize Kosovo's independence

Berlin distances itself from US threats to recognize Kosovo's independence
Mathaba News Agency (UK) - September 10, 2007

Report by: IRNA

The German government has distanced itself after media reports quoted the US State Department as saying that Washington would recognize independence for the breakaway with or without UN support after December 10 when the 120-day negotiation period ends.

Talking at the weekly routine government press briefing on Monday, deputy Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Julia Gross said she did not want "to speculate on a likely failure of the talks".

She urged Serbs and Kosovars "to use the chance within a limited time period" for a negotiated settlement of the ongoing crisis.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Portugal over the weekend admitted disagreements on Kosovo among the 27 member states.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, stressed preventing an EU split was "key to the credibility of Europe's foreign policy."

Britain and France are reportedly among EU countries ready to recognize Kosovo's independence while Germany's position is less clear.

Meanwhile, Spain, Hungary, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus and Romania are reluctant and other governments are showing signs of ambivalence.

A "troika" of US, EU and Russian envoys is mediating in talks about Kosovo which started in Vienna on August 30 and were due to continue in London and New York later this month.

Original URL: http://mathaba.net/news/?x=563592
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