(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-20 10:56

BELGRADE - The Croatian government Wednesday recognized Kosovo's independence, prompting one of the four deputy prime ministers to offer his resignation in protest.

Deputy Prime Minister Slobodan Uzelac of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) voted against the government's decision to recognize Kosovo, and submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, the Croatian news agency HINA reported from Zagreb.

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Uzelac was opposed to the joint statement by Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria in which the three countries earlier Wednesday announced their intention to recognize Kosovo, Sanader said.

Kosovo declared independence on February 17, provoking a fierce reaction from Belgrade, which vows never to accept the independent status.

By March 19, a total of 32 countries had formally recognized Kosovo as an independent state, including the United States, Canada, Japan, and 17 EU members. But three EU members, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus have made it clear they object to Kosovo's independence.

Sanader said he fully understood Uzelac's decision and the position of the SDSS, adding that he did not want Uzelac or his party to leave the government.

"I understand Uzelac's decision, but I still want him in my team and in the government," he said.

Uzelac said he had "offered his resignation for consideration," as the government's decision to recognize Kosovo was a serious one which the SDSS believed could jeopardize bilateral relations.

Sanader said he understood the Kosovo issue was a tough one for Serbia. But he wanted good neighborly relations with Serbia, both political and economic ones, to continue.

Serbian Ambassador to Croatia Radivoje Cveticanin Wednesday delivered a note from the Serbian Foreign Ministry to Neven Pelicaric, Croatia's Assistant Foreign Minister in charge of integration in Europe, expressing the "strong protest over today's decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia to recognize Kosovo."

Cveticanin will be withdrawn to Belgrade for consultations in the next 48 hours.