...

Kosovo independence may have unprecedented effect-Czech president

Other News Materials 18 February 2008 03:15 (UTC +04:00)

( Ceskenoviny )- Czech President Vaclav Klaus today said the declaration of Kosovo's independence, expected today, might have unprecedented consequences for Europe as it might prompt a situation where further parts of other European countries would seek separation.

Interviewed on TV Prima, Klaus said he considers the decision on the unilateral separation of the Kosovo province from Serbia as "a really unique decision in Europe."

"Really, no similar decision on a country's borders has been made since World War Two," Klaus said.

He said Kosovo's separation might provoke the domino effect in Europe.

"Certain parts of other countries could suddenly come across the idea of being not fully satisfied within the country they have been part of to date," Klaus said.

There are voices in Serbia which label Kosovo's separation "a second Munich Treaty," Klaus continued but said he would not use such a parallel.

"I treat such big gestures and historical terms cautiously," said Klaus, whom the Czech parliament re-elected for another five-year term as president on Friday.

In the Munich Treaty of September 1938, the leaders of Germany, Italy, Britain and France decided that Czechoslovakia would cede its border areas with dense German population ( Sudetenland) to the German Reich.

The Czech Republic wants to decide on independent Kosovo's recognition in harmony with the majority opinion in the EU, which is to be formulated at the foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels on Monday.

Klaus emphasised that it is the Czech government who represents the country's foreign political positions.

"If I met the foreign minister [Karel Schwarzenberg], prime minister [Mirek Topolanek] and deputy PM for European affairs [Alexandr Vondra], I'd tell them within our dialogue: 'Let's not hurry, let's not do it, it is not necessary'," Klaus said, adding that "they [the government] are undoubtedly set to do the opposite."

Most EU countries and the USA are expected to recognise independent Kosovo.

Latest

Latest