30/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - The political director of the Slovenian department of foreign affairs, Mitja Drobnic, has resigned, at least until the end of the Slovenian presidency of the EU at the end of June this year, due to a diplomatic quarrel with the USA over Kosovo. This resignation follows the publication by two Slovenian and Serbian newspapers last week of an internal US government document in which Washington had suggested, “directives” for the Slovenian presidency of the EU. According to this secret document that was apparently leaked to the press, without US authorisation, the US Deputy Head of State for European Affairs, Daniel Fried, had requested, during a meeting with Mr Drobnic in Washington on 24 December, that Ljubljana be among the first countries in the EU to recognise Kosovan independence. In this same document leaked to the press, the Bush administration highlighted the importance of an ESDP mission deployed by the EU to Kosovo, notwithstanding the misgivings expressed by Moscow and Belgrade. (H.B.)