By KUNA
Vienna : Austria’s Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer said the European Union (EU) will recognize Kosovo’s independence only if the ethnic Muslim Albanian minority there is protected.
“Any unilateral declaration of independence on the part of Kosovo will be carefully studied by the EU to make sure that UN Special Envoy to Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari’s plan is taken into consideration,” the Austrian Radio and Television Authority said in an official statement.
The UN envoy had called for giving Kosovo independence provided it is placed under UN supervision for an undefined period.
Unlike Russia and Serbia, which oppose any plan for giving Kosovo self rule, the EU in general and Austria in particular favor such independence to Kosovo, which is expected to be declared later this month.
EU member states are currently studying the Kosovo constitution to see if there is any mention of independence to minorities in order not to antagonize Belgrade or Moscow.
Kosovo is still under UN control since, which started after the end of the Kosovo war in 1999 after NATO forces drove Serbian troops out of the disputed district.