By Deborah Charles
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bushrecognized on Tuesday the independence of Kosovo from Serbiaand said it would bring peace to the Balkans.
Bush said in Dar es Salaam that the United States wouldsoon establish full diplomatic relations with the new state,home to 2 million ethnic Albanians, that seceded from Serbia onSunday.
"We will work with the leaders of Kosovo to carry out asmooth and peaceful transition to independence," Bush said toreporters shortly before leaving Tanzania for Rwanda, the thirdleg of his five-country African tour.
Serbia has recalled its ambassador from Washington toprotest against American recognition of Kosovo, first announcedby Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday. Russia alsostrongly 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 that U.S. recognition of Kosovo should havebeen expected.
"We have been in close consultation with the Russians allalong. This wasn't a surprise to Russia," Bush said.
Washington's action followed recognition of Kosovo byEurope's largest states -- France, Britain, Italy and Germany-- and some Muslim states, such as Afghanistan. More countriesare expected to follow suit, although Spain, facing its ownseparatist struggles, has said it will not recognize Kosovo.
The United States and most European Union countries saySerbia relinquished the moral right to rule the people ofKosovo because of brutality under late President SlobodanMilosevic.
"CORRECT MOVE"
Independence for Kosovo is an opportunity to move beyondpast conflicts and towards stability and peace, Bush said.
"History will prove this to be a correct move, to bringpeace to the Balkans," he said.
"The United States supports this move because we believe itwill bring peace. And now it's up to all of us to work togetherto help the Kosovars realize that peace," Bush said.
Kosovo has been under United Nations supervision since1999, when NATO bombing forced a withdrawal of Serb forces thathad been attacking the province's ethnic Albanian majority.There are some 17,000 NATO-led troops in Kosovo.
Rice urged Belgrade to work with the United States toensure the protection of Kosovo Serbs who make up about 10percent of the territory's population.
Bush also urged the protection of the Serbian minority,saying he welcomed the new government's commitment "to thehighest standards of democracy, including freedom and toleranceand justice for citizens of all ethnic backgrounds".
Washington has said it will support Kosovo economically aswell as politically. A donors conference will be held soon inEurope and the United States will give $335 million in aid toKosovo this year.
(Writing by Barry Moody; Editing by Catherine Evans)
