Malta prefers to bide time on Kosovo independence issue

Malta will decide whether to recognise the independence of Kosovo "at the opportune moment", Foreign Minister Michael Frendo told The Times.

The European Union has left the formal recognition of Kosovo up to the individual member states and four leading EU countries - Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy - have already announced they will recognise the new nation.

Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia have questioned the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. Spain is sensitive to Basque and Catalan demands for a separate state and Cyprus is worried that the breakaway Turkish Cypriot part of the island could seek independence.

The majority of EU member states, including Malta, have however adopted a cautious wait and see approach and are not rushing into any formal recognition of Europe's youngest state.

Foreign Ministry sources told The Times that Malta was monitoring the situation and wanted to ensure that stability in the region as well as the rights of the Serb minority in Kosovo were taken into consideration before any decision was taken.

Dr Frendo said Malta was satisfied that the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council reached a unified position on the EU's role for stability in Kosovo and the European perspective for the region.

He said the EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday discussed Kosovo following the adoption by the Kosovo Assembly on Sunday of a resolution declaring Kosovo independent.

"It took note of the fact that the resolution commits Kosovo to the principles of democracy and equality of all its citizens, the protection of the Serb and other minorities, the protection of the cultural and religious heritage and international supervision.

"It noted that member states will decide, in accordance with national practice and international law, on their relations with Kosovo. It reiterated the EU's readiness to play a leading role in strengthening stability in the region," Dr Frendo said.

The foreign ministers asked the European Commission to use Community instruments to promote economic and political development and to propose to the broader region concrete measures in order to advance in that direction.

Outside the EU, China and Russia have criticised Kosovo's declaration of independence. The US, Australia, Taiwan and Turkey have said they will recognise it. Serbia, which considers the move by its breakaway province as illegal, has said it will downgrade diplomatic relations with any country that formally recognises Kosovo.