By Prensa Latina
Ottawa : Canada faces the conundrum Wednesday whether it can follow the rapid US, Britain and France recognition of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence without fueling separatist wishes among key sectors in Quebec.
Recent polls reveal that half of Quebec’s seven million citizens wish to become independent from Canada.
Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said they are studying Sunday’s announcement, but provincial co-governing PQ (Quebec Party) has warned it will follow Kosovo if Canada supports that declaration of independence.
Alban-Kosovar citizens decided to separate from Serbia and establish a new state with support of Washington, London and Paris, against UN resolutions, Serbian will and Russian opposition, pointed out PQ legislator Daniel Turp.
Turp hopes for similar support for Quebec, yet Canadian FM Bernier refuses to compare Quebec to Kosovo, which has been riddled with wars, ethnic clashes and international intervention he said.
Two referendums (1980 and 1995) on Quebec’s status failed to back independence, although the margins were narrow on the second occasion.