Prague - In the upcoming weeks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg will present to the Czech government a proposal to recognize the independent Kosovo.
Schwarzenberg would like to have Kosovo recognized in time for the NATO summit in Bucharest, which begins 2 April.
"It is an important issue," assured Schwarzenberg Friday in an interview with daily Právo.
According to the minister, it is a matter of individual opinion whether Kosovo's government fulfills the appropriate conditions.
"So far, we have to admit that the Albanian government is behaving reasonably. We have seen more problems made by our Serbian friends, Albanians are being good. If this trend continues, we will be able to be more helpful [to Kosovo]," said the minister.
Proving themselves worthy to the international community
One of the important prerequisites to be fulfilled by Kosovo, in order for the Czech Republic to recognize its independence, is, according to Schwarzenberg, protection of the Serb minority.
Kosovo has proclaimed its independence on 17 February and, so far, it has been recognized by more than thirty countries, including the USA, Great Britain, France and Germany.
Russia, on the other hand, is fiercely opposed to independent Kosovo, historically being a close ally of Serbia. Slovakia is another state that is reluctant to recognize the new country.
Klaus and the Left say "no"
President Václav Klaus is not in favor of an independent Kosovo either. Klaus sees it as a dangerous precedent.
"We have opened a Pandora's box that can lead to woeful consequences. It is not an isolated issue that is being solved in that very part of the Balkans," the president explained during his recent visit to Slovakia.
Communists and Social Democrats have a critical stance on the issue as well, with the latter seeing the recognition of Kosovo as premature.
