site.btaMarch 20, 2008: Bulgaria Becomes 18th Country to Recognize Kosovo's Independence

On March 20, 2008, Bulgaria recognized the independence of Kosovo. It became the 18th country to do so.

This decision was part of a coordinated move alongside neighboring countries Hungary and Croatia. The Bulgarian government emphasized that this recognition aimed to ensure regional peace and stability, expressing a desire to maintain and develop relations with Serbia while supporting its deeper integration into the European Union. 

Prior to this recognition, Bulgaria had maintained a cautious stance regarding Kosovo's independence, considering its close ties with Serbia and the potential implications for regional dynamics. However, after thorough analysis and consultations, the Bulgarian government concluded that recognizing Kosovo was in line with its national interests and regional stability goals. 

In the years following this decision, Bulgaria has continued to support Kosovo's integration into regional and international organizations. The Bulgarian Liaison Office in Pristina, established in 2002, was upgraded to an embassy in 2009, reflecting the strengthening of bilateral relations. Bulgaria has also focused on assisting Kosovo in building a stable, democratic, and multiethnic society, sharing its own experiences in European integration to support Kosovo's aspirations.

Following is a collection of stories in the BTA English-language service of March 20, 2008, related to Bulgaria's recognition:

Bulgarian Government Recognizes Independent Kosovo

Sofia, March 20 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Government decided to recognize the independence of Kosovo, which is under international observation, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told a news conference on Thursday, which was held with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin. 

Diplomatic relations at embassy level will be established. The Foreign Minister is authorized to notify the official authorities in Kosovo about the decision. 

The Ahtisaari Plan guarantees the observances of minority rights. Already after Kosovo declared its independence, the EU called an emergency meeting of the foreign ministers, at which Bulgaria declared its position, Prime Minister Stanishev stated. 

Bulgaria is the 18th country to recognize Kosovo.

The Bulgarian authorities were very active in the dialogue between Serbia and the Kosovo authorities in the recent years, Stanishev also said.

Bulgaria is interested in the provision of maximum guarantees for the peace and stability of the region. The international commitment through KFOR and UNMIK and the EU decision to send a mission are the biggest guarantee against the existing risks, the Prime Minister stated.

In his view it is “quite natural” to have a strong reaction on the part of Serbia in the following days and weeks given that elections are upcoming there. As he put it, a political response of the Republic of Serbia is “inevitable” because the Kosovo issue is “highly sensitive for each Serbian citizen”.

Bulgaria follows an independent foreign policy and its foreign political decisions are fully complied with the Bulgarian national interests, Kalfin said at the news conference.

If a solution of the situation had not been found, that could have resulted in a new conflict, similar to the one in the Middle East, he observed. 

Bulgaria does not have an intention to withdraw its Ambassador from Belgrade, Kalfin stated. This country will keep on working actively for the promotion of good neighbourly relations and for Serbia's progress along the road to the EU. The Foreign Minister made these statements taking a question on whether a request has been filed for the withdrawal of the Serbian Ambassador from Bulgaria and whether Bulgaria would have to withdraw its Ambassador, if such request is made.  

"When speaking about the national interest, we do not have to choose between Kosovo and Serbia - this is a ridiculous choice - but we choose between the only possibility for the international community to interfere and commit actively to the establishment of a positive political process in the Western Balkans, on the one hand, and, on the other, the creation of a conflict, aggravating into violence," Kalfin stated. 

Bulgaria Does Not Expect Official Level Problems in Economic Relations with Serbia over Kosovo's Recognition 

Sofia, March 20 (BTA) - Bulgaria does not expect there to be any problems at an official level in its relations with Serbia caused by this country's recognition of Kosovo's independence, Deputy Economy and Energy Minister Yavor Kouyoumdjiev told BTA Thursday. 

Serbia is a country of law and order which has bilateral agreements on reciprocal protection of investments with all of the countries who have so far recognized Kosovo's independence and there have been no official reactions against investments and businesses of such countries in Serbia, Kouyoumdjiev said. As an example he cited Slovenia who is the biggest investor in Serbia and who was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo's independence. "Logically, one would expect that Slovenia would have suffered the most but this did not happen," he said. 

The negative impacts for Bulgaria would rather be in the unofficial bad attitude to Bulgarians who cross the border over to Serbia on a daily basis, Kouyoumdjiev said. He said that the Border Police has made no such alerts for the time being. 

More than 20 Bulgarian companies, mainly in the energy sector, retail trade and the processing industry, have made investments in Serbia, worth a total of 110 million U.S. dollars, according to latest data.

The only Serb investment in Bulgaria is the acquisition of the Piccadilly supermarket chain. 

According to Kouyoumdjiev the benefits for Bulgaria from recognizing Kosovo are that good business opportunities open up before Bulgarian companies. A Bulgarian company has invested about 30 million euros in metal-working in Kosovo. 

If Serbia were to impose an embargo to Kosovo, the region will experience shortages of goods which would open a niche for the Bulgarian business, according to  Kouyoumdjiev. At the moment 80 per cent of Kosovo's foreign trade is with Serbia. Data from Bulgarian sources point that commercial exchange between Bulgaria and Serbia totals 430 million euros, and between Bulgaria and Kosovo, 40 million euros. IT /ZH/

Scholars Join Anti-Kosovo-Recognition Campaign

Sofia, March 20 (BTA) - A section of Bulgaria's scholarly community has said that the Government is taking on a historic responsibility by recognizing Kosovar independence - something the scholars say goes against all international legal norms, and are thereby laying down "a landmine with a timer" in terms of the country's national security. The statement was made in an open letter on Wednesday entitled "The Insane Leading the Blind".

The government cannot fathom the weight of the historic responsibility that they are taking on, and unfortunately it is not they, but those who follow in their footsteps, who will be forced to bear the burden of the consequences. The letter  adds the ominous comment that "the Serbs are our brothers - in blood and in faith. Today, we betray them; tomorrow, we will ourselves be betrayed."

Many scholars and religious leaders voiced their support of the letter on Thursday. NT