Canada Recognizes Kosovo
A Month After It Declares Independence from Serbia, Fears Fallout
Canada officially recognizes the recent unilateral independence of Kosovo. Does this mean it must do the same should Quebec declare unilateral independence?
Canada has been slow to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Fears that it would set a president Quebec could exploit have caused major headaches for the country’s government.
In the past Canada has maintained that neither it, the US nor any other nation would recognize Quebec as an independent state should it ever unilaterally decide to separate from the rest of the country.
However, in parliament on Tuesday, Canada seemed to contradict itself by recognizing Kosovo, a former Serbian province, as an independent state. The US, Britain and France as well as about 30 other countries around the world did so a month ago on February 17, 2008.
Kosovo Sets Dangerous Precedent
Speculators suggest the country’s silence was partly due to Canada’s own independence issues, and that by recognizing the unilateral separation of a state it would be forced to do so should Quebec ever unilaterally declare independence. Others suggest the silence was to appease Canada’s small but vocal Serbian population.
“What we did today, we joined the international community and recognized Kosovo as a new state." Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier told reporters. He continued to stress that Kosovo was a unique case that would not set a precedent. Clear words aimed at the government of Quebec.
However, Daniel Turp, Parti Quebecois international relations critic, paid no head to Ottawa’s warning and declared that should Quebec declare independence, Canada would have to recognize its independence based on the recognition of the new country of Kosovo. "Canada is recognizing a country, a new country, although the country it was part of disagreed," Turp said.
Quebec Differs from Kosovo
Bernier was quick to point out that Kosovo has suffered from years of brutal war. Both NATO and the UN have been involved in helping out the province deal with its situation, and now the new state is under UN jurisdiction to ensure the smooth handling of the transition period.
Kosovo has not been under Serbian control since NATO launched air strikes in 1999. Despite the large ethnic Albanian majority, Serbia sees the province as a significant part of the country’s cultural heritage and both nations share a common history. About 10 percent of the population of Kosovo is ethnic Serbian.
In response to Canada’s declaration, Serbia has recalled its ambassador. “This dangerous precedent will obviously have a long-term effect on many separatist movements all over the globe,” he told reporters.
His sharp words sting those who fear how this could play out in Quebec.
Quebec has held two referendums on independence in 1980 and in 1995, the last of which was narrowly defeated by a 50.58% "No" to 49.42% "Yes".
Source information for this report came from CBC News, The Globe and Mail and The Canadian Press.
