Romania 'To Oppose Kosovo' At NATO Talks

28 March 2008 Bucharest _ Romania is set to repeat its opposition to Kosovo's independence at the upcoming NATO Summit in Bucharest.
"We will reaffirm very clearly our stance saying that the required conditions are not fulfilled so that Romania may recognise the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo," Romania's Defence Minister, Teodor Melescanu told the state-owned Rompres news agency."Romania's stance on the issue is based both on reasons related to the norms of the international law and on practical reasons, taking into account that the borders of the province are not recognised by some of its neighbors," Melescanu emphasised.Romania's President Traian Basescu has repeatedly said his country will not recognise the unilaterally declared independence by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders.Romania cannot acknowledge Kosovo's independence in the absence of a UN resolution and in the absence of the observance of the international law, Basescu argued.Political analysts also say Bucharest is concerned that any recognition of Kosovo's independence could lead to increased demands for autonomy by Romania's ethnic Hungarian minority in the west of the country.Last week while unveiling the NATO Summit agenda, Romania's Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu said Romania supports the alliance's continued role in maintaining peace and stability in Kosovo.Romania is only a handful of European Union member states not to have recognised Kosovo's February 17 declaration of independence from Serbia.Belgrade, backed by Russia, argues the move is illegal since the 1999 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, which put in place a UN administration in Serbia's southern province following the 1998-1999 war, is still valid and the resolution explicitly refers to Kosovo as lying within Serbia's borders.As many as 24 presidents, 26 prime ministers and 86 ministers are due to attend the NATO Summit, which is taking place between April 2-4 in the Romanian capital.According to Cioroianu's plans, the agenda will focus on the alliance's expansion eastwards and maintaining peace in the Balkans in light of Kosovo's declaration of independence.Albania, Croatia and Macedonia are all hoping to receive invitations to join NATO at the summit.