US Formally Recognizes Kosovo Independence
By VOA News
18 February 2008
The United States has formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the move Monday. In a statement, she congratulated the people of Kosovo on what she called "this historic occasion."
Rice welcomed commitments spelled out Sunday in Kosovo's declaration of independence to embrace multi-ethnicity as "a fundamental principle of good governance." She also welcomed Kosovo's agreement to accept a period of international supervision.
The U.S. move came as European Union foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss Kosovo developments. EU officials later said each member will be free to decide whether to recognize Kosovo.
Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia and Romania say they will not recognize Kosovo's statehood at this time. Serbia and traditional ally Russia also oppose Kosovo independence, as does China.
Britain, France, Germany and Italy say they will recognize Kosovo, while declining to elaborate on timing.
Monday's U.S. recognition statement said an "unusual combination of factors" led Washington to recognize Kosovo statehood. It said those factors included Serbia's history of ethnic cleansing and other crimes against Kosovo civilians. It also said Kosovo can not be seen as a precedent for any other situation in the world today.
In Belgrade Monday, Serbia's Interior Ministry filed criminal charges against Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and parliamentary Speaker Jakup Krasniqi for creating what it called a "false state."
Kosovo has been under United Nations administration since 1999, when NATO air strikes halted Belgrade's crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists and drove Belgrade's security forces from the province.
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