The German foreign minister has confirmed that the European Union will promptly recognize Kosovo’s independence should Pristina make a unilateral declaration.

The Itar-Tass news agency reported Monday that Wolfgang Ischinger, a German diplomat who represented the EU in the group of three international mediators (Russia, the United States and the EU) at the talks between Serbia and Kosovar Albanians on the future status of Kosovo, told Radio Berlin Brandenburg that the EU would reach agreement on the problem within a few days.

Ischinger was quick to point out, however, that such Kosovar independence would still allow for an EU presence, with Kosovo not being a sovereign country in its own right. “It will be a state entity, which will continue to be under broad international observation,” he said. “The nato troops will continue to be deployed there. A further international presence of the UN and, consequently, of EU, will be ensured. This will mean independence under international control.”

With the United Nations deadline for a mutual solution to the Kosovo dilemma expiring on Monday, Kosovar Albanians said they would immediately start talks on an independence declaration.

Germany was instrumental in the Yugoslav states of Croatia and Slovenia gaining their independence by recognizing these breakaway republics and then supporting them with troops and armaments. Since then, Slovenia has been absorbed into the EU, with Croatia becoming a candidate country.

Likewise in Kosovo, Germany has actively supported the Kosovar Albanians against the Serbs. It is evident that Germany aims to consolidate its control of Kosovo once it becomes independent. Read The Rising Beast—Germany’s Conquest of the Balkans for a detailed explanation of how Germany has methodically extended its hegemony in the Balkans and why.