12 minutes agoSpain recognised the Kosovo symbols: Foreign minister shows whether to recognise independence
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell has said his country will not change its position on the issue of recognising Kosovo's independence. Borrell, in an interview for Spanish radio “Onda Cero”, has said Spain will not deny visas to Kosovo athletes, but has reaffirmed that his country [...]
Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell has said his country will not change its position on the issue of recognising Kosovo's independence.
Borrell, in an interview for Spanish radio “Onda Cero”, has said Spain will not deny visas to Kosovo athletes, but has reaffirmed that his country will not recognise Kosovo even despite the request of the International Olympic Committee.
“We will not accept that a director general of the International Olympic Committee tells us that we should recognise Kosovo. Who do you think he is?” has asked Borrell, responding to high-ranking IOC official Père Miro, who stressed that Spain will find it difficult to organise sporting events if it takes this stance in relation to Kosovo, broadcast Koha.net.
Spain's “International Policy is not dictated by IOC”, the Spanish minister said afterwards.
Last week, IOC officials threatened to exclude Spain from organising international sports events unless you recognise Kosovo's independence.
Borrell was clarified, saying Spain does not recognise Kosovo or Gibraltar, and said that “this has consequences”. But, defending his country's stance, he stressed that neither Russia, China nor India recognise Kosovo's independence while asking whether such a warning was sent to Moscow, Beijing or New Delhi.
The IOC, as well as the overwhelming majority of international federations, accepted Kosovo into their Bay in 2014, but not even Spain. Indeed, after the crisis over the World Karate Championship, the Spanish Foreign Ministry sent the IOC a formal complaint about the visa issue to Kosovo athletes.
Asked whether the Spanish government's stance would change if Kosovo was recognised by Serbia, Borreli said that in that case it would no longer be “the unilateral peace of independence”.
“We are no longer Pope”, the foreign minister said, hinting that Spain would be open to recognise Kosovo if Belgrade recognises it, Koha.net broadcasts.
Days ago Spain had no rift without knowing the symbols of our Republic under international pressure.
