Balkans countries welcome UN resolution on Kosovo

(TIRANA) - Balkan countries Friday welcomed the UN General Assembly's vote calling for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but Romania said it would still not recognise Kosovo's independence.

"Today, the question of Kosovo's status and its borders is a closed issue which belongs to the past," Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta told reporters.

Meta added that, for Albania, the "adoption of this resolution is a very important step in respecting the International Court of Justice ruling which has confirmed the independence of Kosovo and its territorial integrity."

Meta expressed hope that Belgrade and Pristina would launch a "sincere, stable and constructive" dialogue in the interest of their European prospects.

In Zagreb, Croatia's foreign ministry said "such a resolution establishes real political grounds for a process and creation of mechanisms of cooperation that will strengthen the basis of Serbia's and Kosovo's European future."

"A consensus reached over the resolution is an important chance the (two) sides should not miss," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that Croatia encouraged Serbia and Kosovo to "start a dialogue and cooperation with the biggest responsibility and seriousness."

Serbia's eastern neighbour Romania called the resolution "a landmark for the western Balkans' European perspective" and an "important stage win for the European Union and Serbia."

"The ministry estimates that a fundamental discussion within the EU regarding Serbia's demand to obtain candidate status would be appropriate in the coming period", the foreign ministry said.

But Bucharest said it maintained "its position regarding the non-recognition of Kosovo as a state", citing its "deep and abiding commitment to international law."

Romania had already voiced its refusal to recognise the independence of the breakaway southern Serbian province, saying the International Court of Justice "had not ruled on the substance" of the issue.

The ICJ issued a non-binding opinion in July that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not violate international law.

The General Assembly's resolution Thursday called for dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo with EU mediation, without mentioning the status of Kosovo.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, nine years after the war by Serbian forces against ethnic Albanian separatists, which ended with the establishment of a UN administration over the territory.

Serbia has refused to recognise the move but so far 70 countries have done so, including the United States and all but five members of the European Union.

As well as Romania, those five are Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia and Spain.