By DPA
Ljubljana : Slovenia which currently holds the presidency of 27-member European Union has formally recognized Kosovo two weeks after it declared independence from Serbia.
Of the 90 MPs in the parliamentary vote, 57 backed Wednesday the recognition proposed by Prime Minister Janez Jansa’s cabinet. Four voted against while the rest did not vote.
The recognition proposal passed though the opposition, as well some of the country’s business leaders, asked for a delay in the interest of good economic relations with Serbia, which is a major export and investment target for the Slovenian economy.
Belgrade has immediately recalled its ambassadors for consultations from all the countries, including the US and some leading European Union nations that have recognized Kosovo.
Slovenia and the much larger but less developed Serbia were a part of the former Yugoslav federation. Slovenia was the first to break off from Belgrade’s rule in 1991, Kosovo the last.
Slovenia has joined EU and NATO in 2004, while Serbia has suspended the talks aimed at bringing it closer to EU membership in protest at Western support of Kosovo’s independence.