OTTAWA, March 19: Canada formally recognised Kosovo on Tuesday and ruled out possibility of any threat from separatist forces in Quebec.
Canadian government said its decision was well thought out and this has nothing to do with Quebec. “You cannot compare this with Quebec,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier, pointing to the war and the ethnic cleansing that followed Yugoslavia’s disintegration in the early 1990s.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s ambassador to Canada Dusan Batakovic, regretted Ottawa’s decision to recognise Kosovo and said the Canadian government made a ‘huge mistake’.
Batakovic said Canada’s recognition of Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence a month ago, sets a “dangerous precedent” for secessionist movements like the one in Quebec.
“Many other separatist groups are now striving to raise their issue in a similar way as it was done in Kosovo,” he said.
While announcing Ottawa’s official decision, the Foreign Affairs Minister said: “We note that a significant number of countries, including our G7 partners and many of Canada’s close allies, have already recognised Kosovo.
Kosovo, he said, is a unique case, as illustrated by its recent history characterised by war and ethnic cleansing, the role subsequently played by the United Nations and Nato in administering the territory and providing for its security.
“As the declaration issued by Kosovo’s parliament also makes clear, the unique circumstances which have led to Kosovo’s independence mean it does not constitute any kind of precedent. Statements made by other countries recognising Kosovo’s independence have echoed this point,” Bernier said in a statement.
“We welcome the commitment made by Kosovo to ensure the protection of the rights of Serbian and other minorities, including their right to safety. Canada also welcomes Kosovo’s commitment to ensure the protection of religious and cultural heritage sites”, he added.
