(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-19 14:18

OTTAWA -- The Canadian government has decided to recognize Kosovo as an independent state, Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said Tuesday.

"We note that a significant number of countries, including our G7 partners and many of Canada's close allies, have already recognized Kosovo," Bernier said in a press release.

Ottawa's move has led Serbia to recall its ambassador to Canada.

Serbian Ambassador Dusan Batakovic said Tuesday that he was temporarily being recalled to Belgrade for consultation, a move seen as an expression of Serbia's displeasure with Ottawa.

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"Tomorrow afternoon I will present the official protest of the Serbian government to the Canadian government, and I will be recalled for consultations in Belgrade within 48 hours," Batakovic said.

Canada issued a travel advisory to the region last month after violence erupted following Kosovo's declaration of independence. Angry Serb rioters attacked and burned foreign-owned buildings, including the US embassy in Belgrade.

Also Tuesday, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said his country will recognize Kosovo very soon, but did not specify the date.

"We said Croatia would recognize Kosovo because this is reality. Croatia's policy is principled and small countries can be credible only if they stick to their principles," Mesic told reporters in the city of Virovitica near the Croatian-Hungarian border.

Serbian President Boris Tadic said Monday he had warned Croatia that if it recognized the "illegal" state of Kosovo, it would have an adverse effect on bilateral relations.

"Croatian politics should seriously consider the real consequences of such recognition. That would immediately have a negative effect on our bilateral relations, despite the fact that we want the best relations with (Croatia) and for it to join the EU as soon as possible," Tadic said.

"We want to settle the many outstanding issues with Croatia, but recognizing the illegal Kosovo and Metohija is not an act of good neighborliness," he added.

Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, had been recognized by some 30 countries. Serbia, with strong backing from Russia, strongly opposes Pristina's declaration of independence.