Brown welcomes independent Kosovo

The Prime Minister announced that Britain would be officially recognising the new state in a bid to "close the chapter" following the fraught break-up of Yugoslavia.

"Kosovo has been and is the last unresolved issue," he said. "We are recognising Kosovo as an independent sovereign state."

Mr Brown was speaking in Downing Street after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels failed to agree joint recognition of Kosovo's new unilaterally-declared status.

UK foreign secretary David Miliband made clear that London had no hesitation delivering official recognition to Kosovo. France, Denmark and Sweden also made clear they would endorse its new status, while Germany is expected to do the same soon.

However, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus and Greece have expressed fears that recognition for Kosovo would trigger separatist groups in each of their countries to demand the same.

Mr Brown said Britain was "satisfied" that there were safeguards in place to protect the new country's Serbian communities. He stressed that UK forces would be on hand to monitor the situation.

"We will do what we can to help ensure stability and ensure the development of Kosovo as a country," he added.

Mr Miliband insisted the EU countries had delivered a "strong" statement, despite the fact that only a handful formally announced that they would recognise Kosovo's independence.

"I think that is a very strong position on which to build. I believe other countries will follow in due course," he said.