OIC passes the Kosova resolution

TIRANA, May 26 – the Organization of the Islamic Conference passed earlier this week a resolution on Kosova initiated by Albania and also supported by Saudi Arabia.
The OIC was holding its 36 Ministerial Summit in XXX.
The resolution, a non binding one, opens the way to individual OIC member states to decide whether to recognize Kosova or not.
This mechanism is similar to the one adopted by the EU which left it to member states to decide and as a result of this 22 out of 27 EU member states have recognized Kosova. Kosova is also recognized by 13 out of 57 OIC member states while.
It is expected that a considerable number of other OIC member states will recognize Kosova soon in the weeks ahead.
Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha denied some reports that the resolution had changed or even had failed following reports from some Serb media outlets referring to their Serbian foreign minister.
Belgrade said it secured last minute changes to the resolution which stops well short of calling on member states to recognize Kosova.
The approval of the resolution does not mean direct recognition from the OIC member states but that is a clear suggestion and urges to have other nations to recognize Kosova.
Saudi Arabia, which itself has already recognized Kosova, urged all Muslim nations to recognize its independence. Kosova media reported based on diplomatic sources that 19 Muslim nations are preparing to announce Kosova recognition very soon.
The resolution welcomes cooperation with Kosova and calls on the international community to continue to foster the country’s economy.
It was greeted as a success by Prishtina.
Albania, which drafted the resolution which was then sponsored by Saudi Arabia, says that while the OIC does not call on its members to recognize Prishtina, the resolution puts Kosova on the permanent agenda of the organization by mandating its secretariat to report on events related to Kosova in future meetings.
‘We greet the resolution of the OIC as a historic step for the recognition of Kosova and peace and stability in the Balkans,’ said Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
‘The adoption of this resolution is witness of a new climate between the OIC and Kosova, which comes after the very important recognition by Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago,’ said Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha.
‘The vote for the resolution, even by countries that have not recognized Kosova, demonstrates that independent Kosova is a reality that cannot be turned around and its international recognition an unstoppable process,’ he added.
Kosova’s President Fatmir Sejdiu said the resolution “is a crucial act for the future of our country and the future of the entire region”.
Kosova declared unilateral independence from Serbia in February, 2008, and has since been recognized by 60 countries.