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Australia backs Kosovo split
18/02/2008 10:37 - (SA)
Paris - Australia on Monday became the latest nation to welcome Kosovo's declaration of independence, joining the United States and several European powers, despite fierce objections from Serbia and Russia.
China was among countries unhappy with Kosovo's breakaway from Serbia, declaring it was "deeply concerned" about the future of peace in the region.
"The unilateral approach by Kosovo may cause a series of consequences and lead to severe negative influences on the peace and stability of the Balkan region," foreign ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said in a statement."
"We've already indicated to our diplomatic representatives around the world that this (independence) would be an appropriate course of action," Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The US, Britain, France, Germany and Italy have all indicated that their formal recognition will come on Monday.
Those countries around the world with separatist problems however - from Spain to Sri Lanka - have expressed concern at Kosovo's split.
Calls for 'utmost restraint'
US State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said the US "calls on all parties to exert utmost restraint and to refrain from any provocative act."
A significant minority in the 27-nation EU - Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain - oppose recognising Kosovo.
Others like Malta and Portugal would prefer Kosovo's future be decided at the UN Security Council.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus warned that Kosovo's independence could unleash a domino affect in Europe.
"Some parties in other states could realise that they do not feel completely at ease within a big state in which they are now," he said in a television interview.
As if on cue, the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia immediately seized on Kosovo's break, saying they would ask Russia and the UN to recognise their independence, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.
"In the near future Abkhazia will appeal to the Russian parliament and the UN Security Council with a request to recognise its independence," self-declared Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh was quoted as saying by Interfax.
Some states see Kosovo as setting a dangerous precedent for other separatist movements.
The Sri Lankan government, which is battling separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, warned Kosovo's declaration could set an "unmanageable precedent" and was a violation of the UN charter.
The foreign ministry said it "could set an unmanageable precedent in the conduct of international relations, the established global order of sovereign states and could thus pose a grave threat to international peace and security."
Others are reluctant to recognise Kosovo because of their close ties to Serbia.
Government spokesperson Ivica Bocevski told AFP: "Whatever decision we are going to take, we will take care of the interests of our citizens, as well as the state and national interests of Macedonia."
- AFP
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