Estonia to follow EU stance on Kosovo - Foreign Ministry
14.02.2008
TALLINN, Feb 14, BNS - Estonia is going to act on the topic of independence for Kosovo in conformity with the position of the European Union, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said.
The spokesman told BNS on Thursday that Estonia wishes as rapid as possible a solution for the problem of Kosovo.
He wouldn't say exactly how Estonia will react after Kosovo declares unilateral independence.
This, according to Kosovo politicians, may happen in the coming weekend or early next week.
"Of course you first have to wait until Kosovo declares independence," he said. "Estonia will act on this matter as an EU member state."
While the EU in general has been favorable of Kosovo's unilateral independence, not all its members side with the independence plan.
Cyprus and Romania have said they are against independence without approval from the UN, and according to the media also Greece, Slovakia and Spain are against pushing the matter.
Finland on the other hand is ready to recognize Kosovo also if the EU fails to arrive on a consensus, the daily Helsingin Sanomat reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday accused Europe of double standards in giving its nod to Kosovo's independence from Serbia but not recognizing other states' separatist bids.
"We consider that the one-sided support of a declaration of independence by Kosovo is not moral and not right," Putin said at his annual news conference at the Kremlin.
"It's shameful to approach these problems with double standards," he said, warning that Russia had a move of its own in store.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8861, sise@bns.ee
 
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