(dpa) - Austria on Monday announced its intention to recognize Kosovo as an independent state.
Speaking at the sidelines of the European Union's Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said the country's government is will consider the matter in its upcoming meeting on Wednesday and initiate the proper legal proceedings.
"I will suggest to the Austrian government, which meets on Wednesday, to ask to the president to empower me with drafting the letter of recognition," Plassnik was quoted as saying by the Austrian press agency.
Austria would act "synchronous with a substantial number" of other EU members, Plassnik said.
In an earlier statement, Plassnik stressed Austria's continued determination to provide European integration for all countries on the Balkans including Serbia and newly independent Kosovo. The region was a part of Europe, and that an "European perspective" for every country in the region should be realized.