ROMANIA'S STAND ON KOSOVO

Romania opposes Kosovo’s independence
26 November 2006 16:48 Source: Beta
BOR -- The Romanian ambassador to Serbia says Kosovo’s independence would destabilize the region.“Romania favors broad autonomy for Kosovo, agreed on through a direct dialogue of Priština and Belgrade. In case of an unprecedented decision to grant Kosovo independence, other separatist regions throughout Europe would see this as encouragement to continue with their demands“, ambassador Ion Macovei said today in Bor, where he attended a meeting of the Vlach Democratic Party of Serbia.According to him, this position was recently relayed to NATO secretary-general Jaap de Hoop-Scheffer. The ambassador also said Bucharest had no territorial claims over those parts of Serbia inhabited by majority Romanian and Vlach population. “The Romanian minority in Serbia and the Serb minority in Romania must enjoy all the rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, and continue to be loyal citizens of the states where they live”, ambassador Macovei said.