Estonia to recognize Kosovo's independence within seven workdays

20.02.2008

TALLINN, Feb 20, BNS - Estonia that earlier announced its readiness to recognize the independence of Kosovo should keep its promise within seven workdays.

Estonia will formally recognize Kosovo that declared its independence on Sunday either at Thursday's meeting of the government or next week, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told reporters today.

Unlike some other countries, recognition of Kosovo's independence requires only the government's decision in Estonia.

Paet reaffirmed Estonia's readiness to recognize Kosovo as an independent nation after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers on Monday.

"Establishment of Kosovo's independence will create in the region clarity and hopefully also stability to which also the Kosovan independence declaration refers," he said. "At the same time it is important that in its further development Kosovo observed all the guidelines contained in the status proposal or the so-called Ahtisaari plan."

According to the Foreign Ministry information, by Wednesday noon 10 UN member states -- Costa Rica, Afghanistan, United States, France, Albania, Turkey, United Kingdom, Australia, Senegal and Germany, as well as Taiwan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, has recognized Kosovo's independence.

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and EU members Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia and Spain have said they are not going to recognize Kosovo as an independent nation.

Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8861, sise@bns.ee eaffirmed Estonia's readiness to recognize Kosovo as an independent nation after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers on Monday.

"Establishment of Kosovo's independence will create in the region clarity and hopefully also stability to which also the Kosovan independence declaration refers," he said. "At the same time it is important that in its further development Kosovo observed all the guidelines contained in the status proposal or the so-called Ahtisaari plan."

According to the Foreign Ministry information, by Wednesday noon 10 UN member states -- Costa Rica, Afghanistan, United States, France, Albania, Turkey, United Kingdom, Australia, Senegal and Germany, as well as Taiwan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, has recognized Kosovo's independence.

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and EU members Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia and Spain have said they are not going to recognize Kosovo as an independent nation.

Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8861, sise@bns.ee