Big EU powers Britain, Germany, France to lead bloc's recognition of Kosovo

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Britain, Germany and France are expected to lead European Union nations Monday in pushing to officially recognize Kosovo's status as an independent country.

Eager to have Europe take charge over stability in the Balkans, the EU's three largest states were expected to be the first European nations to formally back Europe's newest nation, but only after EU foreign ministers try to forge a common stance on the issue at talks here.

Finding unity among the 27 EU nations will be tricky amid deep divisions over whether to recognize the declaration and what the bloc should do to ensure stability in the aftermath of Kosovo's decision.

While all 27 EU nations endorse an unprecedented aid plan to bolster Kosovo, some countries - including Greece, Romania, Spain, Cyprus and Slovakia - have said they will not recognize Kosovo as a separate country.

Slovakia's Foreign Ministry said Sunday "for the time being (it) does not consider recognizing Kosovo."

The EU itself does not recognize states, only its member states do.

On the eve of the talks, Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said he was cautiously optimistic most EU countries could sign up to a draft statement that "takes note" of Kosovo's new status and that offers an olive branch to Serbia, in the form of more aid and trade ties and possible eventual membership.

"This is not a race" to recognition, Bildt said. "We are involved in trying to secure the stability of a very volatile region at a critical period in time. We have to do it with care."

Still, diplomats said they expected 20 of the bloc's member states to recognize Kosovo soon.

Some spoke of a done deal. EU nations "could not force Kosovo back to Serbia," said Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller. "That would be impossible." His Belgian counterpart suggested Kosovo had no alternative but to take the action it did.