Hungary Recognises Kosovo's Independence

The Hungarian government has on Wednesday decided to recognize the independence of Kosovo and requested the Minister of Foreign Affairs to submit a proposal to the President of the Republic of Hungary on establishing diplomatic relations with it.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders declared independence from Serbia on 17 February despite fierce opposition from Belgrade and from Kosovo's minority Serbs.

Major European powers, including France, Germany and Britain, along with the United States, officially recognized Kosovo almost immediately.

Spain, a member of the European Union and one of the countries with soldiers in the NATO force in Kosovo, refused its recognition, while Turkey, despite its history of conflict with Kurdish separatists, chose to support Kosovo's independence.

Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia, also members of the EU, have also been reluctant to recognize Kosovo, Greece likewise for its traditionally Serb-friendly foreign policy.

Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica pledged not to recognize the “false state" ever, and the country's President, Boris Tadic, told the United Nation's Security Council that the declaration of independence “annuls international law, tramples upon justice and enthrones injustice." 

The recognition of Kosovo

The statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is as follows:

In the course of the past months, Hungary, together with other member states of the EU and NATO, has been continuously assessing the situation in Kosovo. It has become clear that the status quo in Kosovo was unsustainable and moving forward in the settlement was necessary for the lasting stability and development of the region. It has also become evident that there was no optimal solution acceptable to both sides, and the potential for further negotiations had been exhausted.

Similarly to the views expressed by the majority of member states of the EU and NATO, the Government of Hungary has come to the conclusion that Kosovo's internationally supervised independence may offer the best way-out of the crisis. At the same time, the Government reaffirmed that resolving the status of Kosovo constitutes a sui generis case that does not set any precedent for other unresolved conflicts.

The Government considers it of utmost importance that the principles and values laid down in the Ahtisaari plan, i.e. democracy, the rule of law, a functioning market economy and especially the rights of national minority communities are fully implemented.

Hungary will follow the implementation of these principles and values within the International Steering Group (ISG) with special attention. The Government welcomes the readiness of the Kosovar leadership to co-operate closely with the representatives of the international community in Kosovo, including the mission of the EU, which is to play a leading role in the post-status settlement in Kosovo.

It stresses the importance of the fact that the Government of Kosovo has been pursuing a mature and responsible policy since the declaration of independence and expects this to be continued in the future.

Hungary is ready to further contribute to the enhancement of regional stability and security, inter alia, through its participation in KFOR and EULEX.

The Government of Hungary is fully committed to the development of bilateral relations with Serbia, and expresses its conviction that the recognition of the independence of Kosovo should not cause a rupture in this relationship.

The Government, at the same time, considers it particularly important that the question of Kosovo does not hamper the development of relations between Serbia and the EU. Hungary, as a neighbouring country will make every effort to support Serbia's progress on the path toward integration. 

Joint statement of Bulgaria, Hungary and Croatia

The Governments of Bulgaria and Hungary as EU Member States, the Government of Croatia as an EU candidate country negotiating on accession, all three countries neighbouring Serbia, have agreed to issue the following statement with regard to their forthcoming national decisions on the recognition of Kosovo:

The declaration of independence of Kosovo came after the failure of all the efforts of the international community to find a negotiated solution between Belgrade and Pristina on the status of Kosovo. In these circumstances the change of the unsustainable status quo was unavoidable. Kosovo is a sui generis case arising from the unique circumstances of the disintegration of former Yugoslavia as well as the continued period of international administration.

The three countries attach paramount importance to a maximum degree of stability in South-Eastern Europe and a clear European perspective for all countries in the region.

The Kosovo institutions have committed themselves, inter alia by adopting relevant legislation, to fully implement the principles and the arrangements envisaged by the UNSG Special Envoy's Comprehensive Proposal (Ahtisaari Plan) for the Kosovo Status Settlement. They have also declared their readiness to welcome an international presence in Kosovo in accordance with UNSCR 1244.

The decision on the recognition of Kosovo is based 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 three countries will continue to support the active commitment of the EU and NATO to the stability and democracy-building in Kosovo. Kosovo institutions should provide guarantees for a multi-ethnic state, based on the principles of democracy, rule of law, ensuring broad rights for Serb and other communities, including their effective participation in all institutions. This process is to be supervised by the international community.

The three countries express their interest in developing ties with a Serbia that maintains good relations with its neighbours, enjoys economic growth and keeps its European orientation.

The three countries believe that European integration is the only solid and sustainable platform for economic development, social progress and prosperity for all countries of the region, including Serbia.

The three countries support the further strengthening of ties between Serbia and the Union. Earlier they stood by securing visa facilitation for and later encouraged the opening of talks on visa liberalization with Serbia that could lead to further travel facilitations for its citizens. In the spirit of the Thessaloniki Agenda, which confirmed that the future of the countries of the region lies in the European Union, they favour the earliest possible signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Serbia and the European Union so that Serbia could become in time a candidate country and later a full-fledged member of the European Union, benefiting from the available European assistance throughout the whole process.

The three countries look forward to the continued development of their good-neighbourly relations with Serbia and to the strengthening of their traditional ties with its people."

Source: Portfolio Online Financial Journal