EU members urged to recognise Kosovo

Helsinki: Former UN Balkans envoy Martti Ahtisaari urged all European Union members Friday to recognise Kosovo's independence, saying the issue was important for stability in Europe.

Ahtisaari said at an international seminar on the future of Kosovo "I hope that those countries that have not yet recognised Kosovo, particularly within the EU, will do so."

He added, "I firmly believe that Kosovo is primarily a European issue and the EU cannot afford for Kosovo to become just another frozen issue."

Ahtisaari made his statements hours after Finland recognised the independence of the former Serbian province, joining more than two dozen other countries, including the US, Britain, France and Germany.