9 minutes agoSerbian media: Greece expected to recognise Kosovo
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)It is a very real possibility that the five European Union countries, which so far have not recognised Kosovo's independence -- Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania -- will change their stance, even before the 13-point plan of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, and more [...]
Generally, Germany and France's latest 13-point plan, which media write about dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and the final normalisation of relations on the basis of mutual recognition, envisions that all the remaining five EU nations recognise Kosovo's independence, so that the agreement that will be reached to have full legitimacy at the EU level.
Of the remaining five countries -- Greece, Spain, Slovakia, Romania and Cyprus -- Greece is currently closer to recognising Kosovo's independence, according to sources of “Danas” from diplomatic circles.
“Greece is closer to this because it is currently treating Kosovo in everything as an independent state, and it is only a matter of time when it will officially do so. So far, Greece has not recognised Kosovo because of the interests of that country and regional dynamic relations, but the main Balkan problem Greece has had with northern Macedonia has been resolved. They have no other obstacle to the issue of independence except Cyprus”, sources of the Serbian newspaper say
However, they add that since Cyprus is an EU member, the issue is quite different from that of Kosovo and that authorities in Greece can stress this difference if they want to get support for Kosovo's recognition.
“If Greece does that, Cyprus will certainly get angry, but will certainly not remain the only country that does not recognise Kosovo's independence, if the EU requires unity by its members and if Greece raises the issue. In that case, it is only a matter of time and agreement on when Spain will do the same. For Romania and Slovakia, the issue is even simpler”, sources of the Serbian newspaper “Danas” further say.
So far, it has been significant that the EU's top negotiator, special envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, comes from Slovakia, which shares Serbia's position on the Kosovo issue, as the fact that Eurodeput from this state is responsible for the post of EP rapporteur for Serbia, Vladimir Bilk.
“although first EU officials and implementing Union policy, so far there has been much consensus on their part for Serbia, and European officials never completely distanced from the positions taken by authorities in the countries from which they come. However, if the EU decides that it is the time and that an agreement should be reached between Serbia and Kosovo, and this is largely affected by current geopolitical relations, it will have to be a priority for all its officials”, “Danas” sources said.
