Montenegro, Macedonia recognize Kosovo

By Kole Casule SKOPJE (Reuters) - Serbia's neighbors Montenegro and Macedonia recognized Kosovo on Thursday in a blow to Belgrade's efforts to counter the secession of its former province. On Wednesday, the United Nations' General Assembly supported Serbia's initiative to seek an International Court of Justice opinion on the legality of the independence declaration made by Kosovo in February and recognized by 48, mostly Western states. Serbia had hoped that it would stop the further recognition of its former province. Montenegro and Macedonia, the only two former Yugoslav republics that ended their union with Serbia peacefully, on Thursday recognized Kosovo and issued a joint statement. "The... [read full story]