Prague/Teplice - The Czech Republic has joined the club of countries that have recognized the independent Kosovo.
This decision was made during the cabinet meeting in Teplice.
The Czech Republic is now planning to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo.
Concerns over regional stability
"This political decision is based on the conviction that the recognition of Kosovo's independence will strengthen the overall stability in the region, provide a realistic way out of unmaintainable provisional arrangements and direct the efforts of west Balkan countries toward challenges linked to their future membership in European and Euro-Atlantic institutions," explains a press release from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Also, the ministry informed that current Czech office of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission (MIK), based in Pristina, will be transformed into the Czech embassy to the Republic of Kosovo.
"The course of events led to Kosovo gaining independence. And we have to work with this reality and admit it took place. Especially when over 500 of our people are there right now," informed Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.
Christian Democratic disapproval
The government was discussing Kosovo already in April, however a large part of the cabinet, mostly Christian Democratic (KDU-ČSL) ministers, were not in favor then.
Their opinion remained unchanged even during yesterday's meeting.
"Ministers from KDU-ČSL didn't vote for this proposal, because they don't believe it to be a necessary measure at present. We have expressed some of our reasons and the other is that, in our opinion, what is emerging in Kosovo is not a multiethnic state, because we have information that only the Albanian population will really take roots there," Aktuálně.cz was told by the KDU-ČSL Chairman Jiří Čunek.
Deputy Chairman David Macek added that their current stance doesn't mean they will never recognize Kosovo - they only want to provide all concerned parties with enough time for stabilization. They also want to support pro-European elements in Serbia.
The Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) has criticized the decision of the government too, with the chairman of the party Jiří Paroubek calling it "a reckless decision that doesn't have support either in the government, or in parliament".
