US and EU powers to recognise Kosovan statehood | World news | guardian.co.uk

リンク: US and EU powers to recognise Kosovan statehood | World news | guardian.co.uk.

Britain, France, Germany and the US today said they would recognise Kosovo after its declaration of independence, but Spain broke ranks by saying it would withhold its endorsement.

The announcements by the French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, and the British foreign secretary, David Miliband, at an EU foreign ministerial meeting in Brussels, came as a relief for Pristina after Spain punctured Kosovo s euphoria.

The US president, George Bush, hailed Kosovo s historic bid for statehood and the US government extended formal recognition to it as  a sovereign and independent state .

The establishment of these relations will reaffirm the special ties of friendship that have linked together the people of the United States and Kosovo,  the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said in a statement.

Serbia has tonight reacted to the news by recalling its US ambassador.

However, Spain which is grappling with its Basque problem, fears Kosovo s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia sets a bad precedent for other countries facing separatist movements.

The government of Spain will not recognise the unilateral act proclaimed yesterday by the assembly of Kosovo,  the foreign minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, told reporters.

We will not recognise because we consider ... this does not respect international law.

Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania have indicated they too are not keen to recognise Kosovo.

Bush is due to make an official statement about Kosovo tomorrow, in line with the original script which calls for the EU to go first in announcing its policy on what the west insists is a  European issue .