Serbia Expels Macedonian Ambassador after Kosovo Recognition
By VOA News
10 October 2008
Serbia has expelled Macedonia's ambassador after his country recognized Kosovo's independence.
Serbia announced the expulsion of Aleksandar Vasilevski, Friday.
Macedonia and Montenegro, two close allies of Serbia, granted recognition to Kosovo Thursday.
Serbia immediately expelled the Montenegrin ambassador Anka Vojvodic. Serbian President Boris Tadic called the recognition of Kosovo very wrong and contrary to international law. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic called Montenegro's recognition a knife in Serbia's back.
A Macedonian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Petar Culev, called the Serbian action hasty. He said Macedonia will not respond in kind but instead will continue working with Serbia's ambassador in Skopje.
The announcements by the two countries bring the number of states recognizing Kosovo to 50.
The three countries were at one time part of the former Yugoslavia.
A U.S. State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, welcomed the Montenegrin and Macedonian actions, as well as Portugal's recognition of Kosovo earlier this week.
The spokesman says the decisions will help deepen regional cooperation to the benefit of all of southeast Europe.
Earlier Thursday, Serbia said it will return ambassadors it recalled from countries that recognized Kosovo earlier this year. A statement from Belgrade said restoring its ambassadors will allow Serbia to continue the diplomatic activities necessary to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority declared independence from Serbia in February. Serbia, backed by its ally, Russia, insists on maintaining sovereignty over the area. The European Union Thursday pledged $164 million in aid to Kosovo.
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