PORTUGAL WITHHOLDS JUDGMENT ON KOSOVO STATUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.02.2008 14:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Portugal’s Foreign Minister Luis Amado said his
country would withhold judgment on Kosovo to see "when and how
independence will be declared", but called for a "common" EU stance
on the issue, French media reported.

Formally a part of Serbia, the province has been run by the United
Nations since 1999, when NATO bombing halted a Serbian crackdown on
its ethnic Albanian majority.

Serbia has offered Kosovo broad autonomy but insists it remain part
of Serbian territory. Meanwhile Kosovans are preparing to proclaim
independence.

Russia stated it will support the decision acceptable for both Belgrade
and Pristina.