PanARMENIAN.Net

U.S., Germany planning to recognize Kosovo independence
12.01.2008 15:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The United States and Germany have
agreed to recognize Kosovo after it declares
independence and to urge the rest of Europe to follow
suit, say senior European Union diplomats close to
negotiations over Kosovo’s future.

In a recent conversation about Kosovo, a Serbian
province that has been under United Nations
administration since 1999, President Bush and
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany agreed it was
vital to recognize Kosovo to stabilize the western
Balkans, European officials said Wednesday evening.
After months of failed negotiations, Kosovo is
expected to declare independence after the second
round of Serbian elections, planned for Feb. 3.

The European officials said the United States was
aggressively pressing the European Union to ensure
that the recognition of Kosovo was not delayed by even
a week. They spoke on the condition of anonymity
because diplomatic negotiations were continuing.

"The cake has been baked, because the Americans have
promised Kosovo independence," a senior European Union
official said. "And if Washington recognizes Kosovo
and European nations do not follow, it will be a
disaster."

The German Foreign Ministry said no decision had been
reached on when the European Union would recognize
Kosovo, The New York Times reports.