By Deborah Charles
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush onTuesday recognised the independence of Kosovo from Serbia andsaid it would bring peace to the Balkans.
Bush said during an African tour in Dar es Salaam that theUnited States would soon establish full diplomatic relationswith the majority Albanian country.
"On behalf of the American people, I hereby recognizeKosovo as an independent and sovereign state," Bush said in aletter to President Fatmir Sejdiu.
"I congratulate you and Kosovo's citizens for having takenthis important step in your democratic and nationaldevelopment," Bush added, saying Washington was a partner andfriend to the new state.
He told reporters in Tanzania: "History will prove thiswill be a correct move to bring peace to the Balkans. TheUnited States supports this move because we believe it willbring peace".
He spoke before leaving Tanzania for Rwanda, on the thirdleg of his tour. Bush was hailed here as a friend of Africa andhundreds of people, including schoolchildren in uniform, linedhis route to the airport to bid him farewell.
Serbia has recalled its ambassador from Washington toprotest against American recognition of Kosovo, first announcedby Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday, and Russiastrongly opposes independence.
The Russian ambassador to the United Nations, VitalyChurkin, called Kosovo's declaration "a blatant breach of thenorms and principles of international law".
But Bush said the United States had been in close touchwith Moscow and recognition "shouldn't come as a surprise".
He said Washington would work with Kosovo's leaders to"carry out a smooth and peaceful transition".
"SINCERE FRIENDSHIP"
In his letter, Bush wrote: "On this historic occasion, Inote the deep and sincere bonds of friendship that unite ourpeople. This friendship, cemented during Kosovo's darkest hoursof tragedy, has grown stronger in the nine years since war inKosovo ended".
Washington's action, which was expected, followedrecognition of Kosovo by Europe's largest states -- France,Britain, Italy and Germany, as well as some Muslim states likeAfghanistan. More countries are expected to follow suit, butSpain said it would not recognise.
Washington, along with most European Union countries, saysSerbia relinquished the moral right to rule the people ofKosovo because of brutality under late President SlobodanMilosevic.
Kosovo has been under United Nations supervision since1999, when NATO bombing forced a withdrawal of Serb forces thathad been attacking Albanians in the province. There are some17,000 NATO-led troops in Kosovo.
Rice urge Belgrade to work with the United States to ensurethe protection of the Serbian community in Kosovo -- a regionwith about 2 million Albanians, a 90 percent majority.
Bush also urged the protection of the Serbian minority inKosovo, saying he welcomed the new government desire "to reachthe highest standards of democracy and freedom".
He added: "In particular, I support your embrace ofmulti-ethnicity as a principle of good governance and yourcommitment to developing accountable institutions in which allcitizens are equal under the law."
Washington has said it will support Kosovo economically aswell as politically. A donors conference would be held soon inEurope and the United States would give $335 million (171million pounds) in aid to Kosovo this year.
(Writing by Barry Moody; Editing by Michael Winfrey)
