U.S., European powers endorse Kosovo independence

The United States on Monday joined Britain, France, Germany and Italyin supportingKosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia, a move not unanimously endorsed by the European Union.

"The United States has today formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement.

The official recognition from the U.S. came hours after President George W. Bush said in an interview that "the Kosovars are now independent.

"It's something that I've advocated, along with my government," Bush said.

Serbia recalled its ambassador from Washington,D.C.,shortly after the Americans gave their support to Kosovo, and threatenedto recall its envoys from all nations that establish diplomatic ties with Kosovo, thoughit won't sever relations.

The Canadian government is considering whether to formally recognize Kosovo, as the international community continues to be split on how to respond to the province'sunilateral declaration of independence from Serbia.

As Kosovo's leaders sent out 192 letters to the world's nations Monday seeking formal recognition of independence, the UN Security Council held an emergency meetingrequested by Russia and Serbia, who have denounced the Kosovars' move as illegal.

Kosovo legislatorsdeclared the provincean independentnation on Sunday in defiance of the Serbian government and Russia.

Russia, a member of the UN Security Council,worked to stem the tide of diplomatic recognition of the new country byarguing at the emergency session that an independent Kosovo violates the council's orders.

Russia andSerbiawere expected toargue that under the United Nations charter, secession movements by provinces or territories are illegal without permission from the main country, CBC's Neil Herland had earlier reported.

But the U.S. and European countries are expected to counter that Kosovo is a unique exception and that allowing it independence is the best way to ensure protection of its civilians, Herland said.

Countries divided

The province has formally remained a part of Serbia, but has been run by the United Nations from Belgrade since 1999, when NATO air strikes ended a Serbian crackdown on Albanian separatists that killed 10,000 people.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels Monday, member countrieswere deeply divided over whether to recognize Kosovo.

Kosovo's declaration was "a great success for Europe, a great success for the Kosovars and certainly not a defeat for the Serbs," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Brussels.

Spain, which has battled a violent Basque separatist movement for decades, said the independence bid was illegal under international law.

Greece, Romania, Cyprus and Slovakia have expressed the same view.

Difference between Kosovo, Canada

Richard Howitt, a British member of theEuropean Parliament,said if the EU does not speak with one voice to support Kosovo, the results could be disastrous.

"What will happen is we will be giving support to those who want a return to violence in the region and of course we would be dignifying the position of the Russians, who are frankly quite isolated in the UN and other international institutions."

Aurel Braun,of the international relations program at theUniversity of Toronto, said the Canadian government wants to ensure the province is a democratic entity that respects the rule of law and human rights.

Hetold CBC News that Canada is also worried about separatism, although there are significant differences between the situation in Kosovo and Canada.

"While I'm sure Canada will be recognizing Kosovo, I would be skeptical if Canada would be the first or one of the very first countries. It may be prudentto wait a little bit, but I don't think Canada will be too far along in recognizing Kosovo."

On Monday, Liberal Leader Stphane Dion said in Quebec City that Canada should follow the lead of other countries and recognizeKosovo as an independent country.

The Parti Qubcoissent congratulations to Kosovars on Sunday.

About 90 per cent of Kosovo's two million people are ethnic Albanians. Most of its minority Serbs live in isolated enclaves and feel unprotected and vulnerable.

About 16,000NATO-led peacekeepers are bolstering security andthe alliance increasedits patrols heading intothe weekend in hopes of discouraging violence.