Outcome of dialogue a step forward, we will not recognise Kosovo - Spanish MFA

MADRID - The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday the outcome of a February 27 Belgrade-Pristina meeting was a step forward but that there was still work to be done on normalisation of relations based on an EU proposal backed by the European Council.

In a written statement to Tanjug, the ministry also noted that Spain would not change its stance on the so-called Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence.

Spain stands by the position that it does not recognise the independence unilaterally declared by Pristina in 2008 and we defend the need for solving the issue of the territory of "Kosovo*" through dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, the statement said.

It is time to make definite efforts to solve the Kosovo issue, it said.

The ministry said it supported the great engagement by EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borrell to help conflict resolution and that it also fully supported the work of EU special envoy Miroslav Lajcak.

It noted that, even though it was positive that Belgrade and Pristina had agreed on the text of the proposal without any amendments made, there would be no firm agreement without a clear implementation plan for the proposal.