Serbian Envoys Return to EU Capitals that Recognized Kosovo
July 25, 2008
Serbia's ruling coalition of pro-European parties and Socialists welcomed the decision announced Thursday, July 24, but the nationalist opposition said it amounted to "a capitulation" by Serbia.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic recommended the move as an effort to "enhance the diplomatic capacities of Serbia."
More than 40 countries, including the United States and a majority of EU member states, extended diplomatic recognition to Kosovo after it split from Serbia in February.
During its regular session, the Serbian government decided that all ambassadors pulled from the EU countries would return apart from Poland and Denmark, where new ambassadors have yet to be appointed.
Serbia pulled envoys from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Holland, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Slovenia, Sweden and Britain.
Belgrade has no envoys in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ireland and Luxembourg, but those countries are covered by the envoys from the neighboring ones.
Six EU countries did not recognize Kosovo -- Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain -- and Serbia kept its envoys in place.