Bulgaria recognises Kosovo

13:58 Thu 20 Mar 2008 - Elena Koinova

Photo: Krasimir Yuskeseliev

On March 20 2008, a month and three days after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, the Bulgarian Government took a decision to recognise the former Yugoslav province as an independent state.

Bulgaria become the third neighbouring country to recognise Kosovo. The first two were Croatia and Hungary. On March 19 the governments of Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary issued a joint declaration stating their readiness to recognise Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence. The same day Croatia and Hungary followed the example of 29 countries and recognised Kosovo while the Bulgarian Government waited for a day to announce its decision.

The decision to recognise Kosovo draws on “thorough consideration and on the conclusions adopted by the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union on 12 February 2007 and 18 February 2008, as well as by the European Council on 14 December 2007”, the joint declaration reads.

Kosovo is a “case arising from the unique circumstances of the disintegration of former Yugoslavia as well as the continued period of international administration”, the declaration read.

Despite this, all three countries paid due tribute to the European future of Serbia and favour the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Serbia and the European Union.

Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic said, as quoted by Agence France Presse (AFP), that countries that have recognised Kosovo “cannot rely on good relations with Serbia”.

Hours before the release of the joint statement, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Lyubomir Kyuchoukov met Serbian ambassador to Bulgaria Danilo Vucetic to inform him about the decision. Emerging from the meeting, he said there was no reason to expect that Serbia would treat Bulgaria any differently from other states that had recognised Kosovo’s independence. Over the past month, Serbia has recalled its ambassadors, for an indefinite period, from all the countries that have recognised Kosovo.

On March 20, Serbia remained true to its approach and recalled its ambassador in Sofia, as well as those in Budapest and Zagreb, for an indefinite period of time. Vucetic also handed over a protest diplomatic note against Bulgaria's official recognition of Kosovo independence.
Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov characterised the decision as “reasonable” yet declined to comment further until the document had been approved by the Cabinet. He said, though, that the situation in Kosovo continued to be “alarming” and this had to be taken into account.

The political outcry in Bulgaria was immediate and, inevitably, the ruling coalition and the opposition took different positions. While the ruling coalition maintained the decision was timely, carefully considered and responsible, the opposition was united behind the feeling that the decision was late.
“Because of indecision, Bulgaria lost its chance to join the governing commission of states, which are to oversee and insist on the implementation of the Ahtisaari plan and therefore to stand for its economic and political interests,” Konstantin Dimitrov, a member of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, said, as quoted by Dnevnik daily.

Sofia mayor and leader of the Citizens for European Development in Bulgaria Boiko Borissov wondered why the Government needed so long to reach its decision “given that from day one everyone knew Bulgaria would recognise Kosovo”.

Hours after the declaration was released, Croatia's deputy prime minister Slobodan Uzelac, a representative of the Serbian minority in the Croatian government, filed his resignation in protest against the plans of the Croatian government, Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader said, as quoted by AFP.

Russia's deputy foreign minister Alexander Yakovenko said that “Russia's position on Serbia remained unchanged, the declaration of Kosovo's independence violated international law”. The head of the defence and security committee in the upper chamber of the Russian parliament Viktor Ozerov would not rule out the prospect of acceding Serbia to the Commonwealth of Independent States and in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Russian newspaper Izvestia reported.

Comments

Comments by matte braidic - 05:27 21 Mar 2008
	1389 Battle of Kosovo BIG LOSS 1593 Austrian–Turkish War LOSS--->Ottomans retaliated by burning the relics of St. Sava- the most sacred thing for all Serbs 1690 &1737-1739 Great Serb Migrations Kosovo became underpopulated as Serbs were leaving what was once the core of their Serbian Empire for Vojvodina and other parts West. LOSS--->If serbs love Kosovo so much, why did they leave and never come back? Are they willing to exchange Vojvodina for Kosovo? 1804 Slaughter of the knezes LOSS 1805 First Serbian Uprising WIN 1806-1812 Russo-Turkish War LOSS 1813 Ottomans reconquer Serbia LOSS 1815 Second Serbian Uprising WIN 1885 Serbo-Bulgarian War LOSS 1912 First Balkan War PUSH 1913 Second Balkan War PUSH 1914 World War I LOSS-->nice job starting the conflict 1941 World War II PUSH-->TITO might have chosen Belgrade as capital, but he was a Croatian/Slovenian. 1991 Slovenian Independence War LOSS 1991-95 Croatian Independence War LOSS-->Caused the third and fastest Great Serb Migration. 1992 Bosnian War PUSH----> Ended up with 51% of the land, and Karadzic and Mladic as their heros. 1999 Kosovo War LOSS-->78 days of US Bombs? Ouch! 2006 Montenegro declares Independence LOSS 2008 Kosovo declares independence LOSS Losses:13 Wins:2 Push:4
Comments by Cornelius Krissilas - 07:06 21 Mar 2008
	If any part of any Country in the World proclaims itself "independent" at the same time without regard of any Laws Local,or regional or federal or International there would be instant Chaos and there would be instant wars all over the World! The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was created after the 1st World War by the agreement of all European Powers and U.S.A.Tsar Alexander the I proposed after the final defeat of Napoleon Vonaparte the Creation of a Holy Alliance.If the others had listened to him, except laughing at him, then there would never have been Communist Revolutions neither Republican revolutions not I or II World Wars but only Christian Kingdoms and Empires in Europe and all people of different languages and ethnicities and customs and religious Rites would live together in Peace minding their own individual lives and family lives.The ex-Kings and legitimate Heirs in all Europe plus the Reigning Kings and Princes in Europe should come together and agree on a plan to restore permanent Peace in Europe based on Christian Charity and Justice and taking into account past History and the legitimate rights of all. You cannot bring Peace in Europe without the Prince of Peace Christ Jesus, and his teachings of loving your neighbor as yourself.That was the plan of Alexander I of Russia.A Holy Christian European Monarchical Alliance.The decision of Bulgaria to regognize the "self-proclaimed" Independence of a Minority in the whole Country and State of Serbia violates the Christian Principle of "loving your neighbor as yourself".Would Bulgaria like its Country to split up?NO! Why then Bulgaria supports the spliting up of its neighbor's Country Serbia?
Comments by bluerose799 - 17:55 21 Mar 2008
	It's about time to recognize the historical right of Kosova (Dardania) to have its destiny fulfilled-That is full independence. Kosova never was a Serbian province. It was there, since the times of birth of European civilization, a very distinct Dardanian/llyrian identity. Always populated by Dardanias who, although under constant pressure of forcefully migration by Serbian shovinism, Tito's Yugoslavia & Milloshevic's Serbia, still make up 92% of the population. They speak ilirian language with the dialect GEGE. Serbs always have been a minority there. We know that Serbs appeared in Balkans (then llyria) only by the 6th Century AD, and they speak a language more similar to Ukrainian then Russian. They have always been a minority and 'the story' of Kosova being the Heartland of Serbia is just a pure Serbian nationalist fantasy. Facts Speak Louder Than Words and Serbian’s Lies Will Collapse by Themselves. Serbs always have been considered as oppressors there, not just by Albanian majority, but also by other ethnic groups too. Serbs just occupied Kosova during the rise of the Serbian nationalism early 20th century from Ottomans, who by then were loosing the Balkans after 500 years of occupation. The borders of Kosova are well established and recognized. Now Kosova should be Free! I can’t comprehend how a minority of 7% of the population, pretend to take off the land, the language, culture and the life of the rest of Kosova. Kosovars have the right to live free and independent in their land where they are born, generation after generation, live and will die. Thank You Bolgaria.
Comments by Cornelius Krissilas - 01:34 22 Mar 2008
	A coin has 2 sides! One looks the one side and the other looks the other side! We must look at both sides of any subject or problem.I am a Monarchist and I believe that every Nation should have a permanent Leader or Head of the Nation Prince, King, Tsar or whatever Title that will lead His people and represent them permanently.So the ex-Kings and Princes and legitimate successors and Heirs of the Thrones of Russia,Romania,Bulgaria Serbia, Albania and Greece should assemble together with their expert advisors and their Historians and come in a Conference and decide about anything in a Conference and present to their peoples a permanent solution for a permanent Peace in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.The proclamation of Independence by those in Kossovo has solved nothing but has created more problems for all people concerned! So the dissolution of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.It has created more problems for its neighbors than solutions! There are minorities in all Countries and States.It is not Christian at all for a Country to support the breaking up of its neighbor Country or any Country in the World while wishing its own Country to stay united! I am for peoples creating Federations and Confederations of States instead of dividing further and further.It is not good for the people in general! People of different language and religion and culture and ethnicity that have learned to accept each other and live in Peace in one great Federated State like it was before in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia are the best people and they are really civilized! People they have to learn to live together for the common good!
Comments by bluerose799 - 16:08 23 Mar 2008
	To find the answer for the question “do you think Kosovo’s independence will strengthen separatist movements elsewhere”, please refer to: http://www.acesofww2.com/germany/aces/Hartmann.htm Erich Hartman – top ace of all the time. German Luftwaffe Bf 109 Pilot. Near the end of WWII, in early May 1945, Hartmann, then Gruppenkommandeur of famous Jagdgeschwader 52, and his Commodore, Hermann Graf, ground crew, family members, and other civilians, who had joined the squadron, seeking protection approaching Russian army, moved west in direction of territory already occupied by US troops. On May 8th, 1945, the soldiers and civilians surrendered to US troops in the region between Bavaria (German province) and Czech border. But on May 17th, the US Army delivered all of these German troops and civilians to the Red Army. How did the Russian troops treat the civilians? They tortured, raped German woman, children at least 12 years old. Some woman were shot after the rapes. Others were not so lucky. A twelve year old girl whose mother had been raped and shoot being raped by several solders. She died from these acts soon afterward. Then more Russian came, and it began all over again. During the night, entire German families committed suicide with men killing their wives and daughters, then themselves. This is the way the slavics treat the human been, the innocent civilians. This is the way the Serbs treated innocent Croatian, Bosnian and Dardanian civilians. If any entity of human been will be treated like that, then they are in title to ask and gain the independence. http://www.gendercide.org/case_kosovo.html http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/Kosovo/Kosovo-Massacres.htm http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/Kosovo/Kosovo-Photographs.htm