Currect European Union presiding nation Slovenia formally recognized Kosovo on Wednesday, two weeks after it declared independence from Serbia. ( dpa )
Of the 90 MPs in the parliamentary vote, 57 backed the recognition proposed by Prime Minister Janez Jansa's cabinet.
Four voted against, the rest did not vote, though the opposition, as well some of the country's business leaders, asked for a delay in the interest of good economic relations with Serbia, which is a major export and investment target for the Slovenian economy.
Belgrade has immediately recalled its ambassadors for consultations from each of the countries that recognized Kosovo, including the United States and the leading European Union nations.
Slovenia and the much larger but less developed Serbia were a part of the former Yugoslav federation. Slovenia was the first to break off from Belgrade's rule in 1991, Kosovo the last.
Slovenia has joined EU and NATO in 2004, while Serbia has suspended the talks aimed at bringing it closer to EU membership in protest at Western support of Kosovo's independence.