Serbia recalls envoys

Belgrade irked at Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary’s recognition of Kosovo

ZAGREB (AFP) – Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary recognized newly independent Kosovo on Wednesday in a joint move that infuriated Serbia, which responded by recalling its ambassadors to Zagreb and Budapest.

In a joint statement, the three regional neighbors – which all have borders with Serbia – declared that their decision to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign nation was “based on thorough consideration.”

It brought to 32 the number of countries worldwide that recognize Kosovo’s independence – unilaterally declared on February 17 by the parliament of the prodominantly ethnic-Albanian territory that had been a province of Serbia. But it also dealt a blow to Serbia’s firm opposition to Kosovo’s independence, and in addition put strains on relations with Croatia, which like Serbia had been part of the former Yugoslavia.

Making good on its warning that relations would suffer, Belgrade swiftly recalled its ambassadors to Zagreb and Budapest for consultations. In a statement in Belgrade, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said the ambassadors – Radivoj Cveticanin in Croatia and Predrag Cudic in Hungary – should leave their host countries in the next 48 hours.

It added that a protest note had also been fired off to Monaco, the latest country to recognize Kosovo.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, speaking on Wednesday to Croatian television, welcomed the nod from Sofia, Zagred and Budapest, saying: “We are very satisfied that we have been finally recognized by... our friends.” In a statement, the Croatian government said it “accepted” Kosovo’s independence – prompting Deputy Prime Minister Slobodan Uzelac, who represents the country’s Serb minority, to tender his resignation in protest. Croatia went on to underline its “readiness to continue developing universal and intensive relations with Serbia.”

“Ties between the countries in the region are of special importance and their lasting stability remains an irreplaceable factor of peace and security in Europe,” it said.

Slovenia was the first former Yugoslav republic to recognize Kosovo, but Croatia’s move is more sensitive, as it threatened to harm delicate postwar ties between the two neighbors.

Serbian President Boris Tadic had already stated that recognizing Kosovo would have an “immediate impact on our bilateral ties.”

In its statement, Hungary called on Belgrade to ensure the safety of 350,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Vojvodina, a Serbian province where the minority group has been targeted in the past by Serb nationalists.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, traveling in Greece, said: “Every country that makes this move cannot count on good relations with us... Every country that recognizes the illegal state of Kosovo violates international law.”