![]() Ethnic Albanians celebrated Kosovo independence in February |
The governments of Montenegro, Macedonia Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Columbia and Portugal have formally recognised Kosovo as independent following its secession from Serbia recently.
It means that, apart from Serbia, only Bosnia-Hercegovina among ex-Yugoslav republics has yet to recognise Kosovo.
Serbia reacted angrily, expelling the Montenegrin and Macedonian ambassadors and saying their countries had "jeopardised" regional stability.
About 63 countries have recognised Kosovo's independence so far.
But more than 120 have not yet.
Macedonia's Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said his government approved the move after parliament adopted a resolution by an overwhelming majority to make the recommendation.
Montenegro and Serbia made up a single state until a referendum in 2006.
Montenegro hopes to become a future member of the EU and Nato; its foreign minister said the decision was guided by his county's national interests and that an independent Kosovo was a reality.
The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Pristina says that recognition by its neighbours brings both psychological and practical trading benefits for Kosovo.
The small country of only two million inhabitants, of which 92% are Albanian, has constantly appeared isolated in the western Balkans. This is where injustice takes place. The United Nations is treating Kosovo as an under-privileged orphan.
Peace and stability
Serbian's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic described the decision to eject Montenegro's ambassador from the country as "proportionate".
He told the state news agency, Tanjug, that "regional countries have special responsibility in preserving peace and stability in the Balkans".
Earlier, Serbia said it was reinstating its ambassadors to the US and other Western nations that had angered it by recognizing Kosovo's independence.
The declarations from Serbian's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic that Kosovo's recognitions from 63 countries would undermine the stability in the region eventually proved to be "a desparate monologue".
Serbia recalled many of its ambassadors in February from countries that backed Kosovo's unilateral declaration - a move that Serbia has condemned as illegal.
In a statement, the Serb government said the decision was made because of "continued diplomatic activity to preserve Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty".
It comes amid a week of both defeats and victories for Kosovan diplomacy.
On Wednesday, a substantial majority at the UN General Assembly agreed to allow Serbia to challenge the legality of Kosovan independence at the International Court of Justice.
Ertan Bikliqi - Kosova, Prishtina
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