"Romania could recognize Kosovo in 2015"

Source: Tanjug

BUCHAREST -- Romanian Prime Minister Viktor Ponta told U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden that his country "may change its current stance on Kosovo and recognize it."

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Romania is among the five EU countries that have not recognized the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo, made by ethnic Albanians there in 2008.
Ponta told Romania's private RTV television that when it came to Romania's position on Kosovo, "next year nothing will not change," but that he believes that in 2015, his country "could coordinate its position with its partners in the European Union."

He added that Biden "knows the situation in Romania so well that he did not have to disclose any details of the Romanian position towards Kosovo."

In June, Ponta said that he was in favor of Romania recognizing Kosovo "more quickly," while President Traian Basescu's position on this issue is "more cautious."

The European Parliament in April passed a resolution calling on the five remaining member states that have not recognized Kosovo, including Romania, to do so.

Ponta later stated that Romania "should join the European family" on this issue.