(dpa) - France will recognize Kosovo as an independent state, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday.
Speaking after a meeting with European Union counterparts in Brussels, Kouchner said that France "intends to recognize Kosovo," but did not name a date for the recognition.
The EU remains divided on the Kosovo issue, with a majority of member states in favour of recognition, but a few, such as Spain, Cyprus and Romania, opposed to it.