FACTBOX-Where do countries stand on Kosovo?

Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:54pm EST

Feb 18 (Reuters) - The United States and Europe's leading powers said on Monday they were recognising the independence of Kosovo, a day after the majority Albanian territory seceded from Serbia.

Serbia opposes the move, as does Russia. Germany said 17 of the European Union's 27 members would take a quick decision on recognition.

Here is a list of countries which have declared their intentions.



*RECOGNISED:

AFGHANISTAN - Afghanistan said on Monday that it recognised and supported Kosovo as an independent country.

ALBANIA - Prime Minister Sali Berisha said Albania recognised Kosovo's independence. Albania has said it will help the new state's economy by giving access to its Adriatic ports.

BRITAIN - Foreign Minister David Miliband announced on Monday that Britain will recognise the independence of Kosovo.

FRANCE - France recognised Kosovo's independence on Monday after European Union foreign ministers adopted a joint statement on the breakaway Serbian province's future. The EU vowed in a statement to work for stability in the region while leaving each member free to decide on recognising Kosovo's independence.

GERMANY - Germany said it will recognise the independence of Kosovo.

ITALY - Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said on Monday Italy will recognise Kosovo "as an independent state under international supervision."

TURKEY - Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that Turkey had decided to recognise Kosovo as an independent state.

UNITED STATES - The United States formally recognised Kosovo "as a sovereign and independent state", Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement on Monday.



* Foreign ministers and diplomats in Brussels said they expected Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Bulgaria, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria and Hungary to recognise Kosovo soon.



* NOT RECOGNISED:

AZERBAIJAN - Ex-Soviet Azerbaijan says it does not recognise Kosovo's independence.

CHINA - China said on Monday it was "deeply concerned" about Kosovo's independence declaration and urged both sides to continue negotiations.

EU COUNTRIES - Cyprus and Slovakia have indicated they will not recognise Kosovo. Both are concerned about the legal precedent or minority rights.

ROMANIA - Parliament said on Monday that Romania will not recognise Kosovo's independence.

SPAIN - Spain, grappling with its own separatist movements, said on Monday it will not recognise Kosovo, saying legal secession required the agreement of both parties or a U.N. Security Council resolution.

GEORGIA - Foreign Minister David Bakradze said Georgia will not recognise Kosovo's independence.

RUSSIA - Russia has said Kosovo's declaration of independence is illegal.

SERBIA - Serbia vowed undying but peaceful resistance to the loss of Kosovo and its prime minister called Kosovo "a false state."

SRI LANKA - Sri Lanka said on Monday Kosovo's independence declaration was a violation of the U.N. Charter.

VIETNAM - A non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, says it opposes the declaration of independence.
(Writing by David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit; Editing by World Desk)

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