Portugal announces recognition of Kosovo

Lisbon, Oct 8 (DPA) Portugal announced Tuesday evening its official recognition of Kosovo, the break-away Serbian province which had unilaterally declared its independence last February.

The office of Foreign Minister Luis Amado announced the move, which reduced the number of European Union states still opposed to recognising Kosovo's independence.

Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Romania and the Czech Republic are still opposed to Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence which they regard as contrary to international law.

With Portugal's move, 48 countries, including the US and the majority of the 27-member EU, now recognise the government in Pristina. But 144 countries, among them Russia, China and Brazil remain opposed to recognition.

Analysts in Lisbon said that Premier Jose Socrates was no longer able to resist the increasing pressure being exerted by such countries as the US, German, France, Italy and Britain to recognise Kosovo.