Romania rejects the idea of recognising the independence of Kosovo
Prime Minister Victor Ponta on June 3 reiterated that as far as he is concerned, Romania should coordinate its stance on the status of Kosovo with its European partners, given that 22 EU member states have already recognised Kosovo's independence. He also said he will discuss the matter next week with his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico.
Ponta made this statement at a joint meeting of Romania's Parliament's committee on foreign affairs that debated the status of Kosovo.
«This is a step toward the idea of a new relationship between Parliament and the Government, including as far as foreign policy relations are concerned, a step toward strengthening the relationship in order to cooperate in making decisions and holding consultations. We have come before you today not with a proposal for a decision, but with a brief and probably a discussion with you over a delicate issue, a tough issue on Romania and EU's foreign policy agenda,» said Ponta.
He pointed out having discussed the issue with the Serb prime minister, who last week visited Bucharest.
«As you may know, there are developments in this issue. At this time, at a European level, there are only five member states having not recognised the independence of the Kosovo province. Among them is Romania. In Bucharest, we had talks that included this issue as well with Serbia's prime minister. Next week in Bratislava I will also have a conversation on the same matter with Slovakia's Prime Minister Fico. The Romanian diplomacy, under a co-decision of the President and the prime minister and a resolution passed by Parliament, has each time respected the decisions on a political level, but we are in a continual adaptation to the European and world political situation and the idea of having this conversation is meant exactly to find out whether or not Romania is heading in a certain direction or stay inflexible, stuck to an opinion to which it committed itself years ago,» said Ponta.
He added that there is a wide range of opinions, starting with the rejection of the idea of ever recognising the independence of Kosovo, all the way to the adoption of a position that is coordinated at the EU level.
He added that following discussions inside the foreign affairs committees of the Romanian Parliament, a direction has to be chosen for Romania in relation to the status of Kosovo as well as the speed with which the country marches on.
Adapted from Agerpres