Serbia recalls its US ambassador as Bush hails Kosovo independence

Serbia withdrew its ambassador to the United States last night as world opinion remained divided over the independence of Kosovo.

Although the US formally recognised Kosovo's newly declared status, the 27-member European Union failed unanimously to recognise the former Serbian province as a nation state. While the rump of the EU, including Britain, France, Germany and Italy, announced individual recognition of Kosovo and the US President George Bush declared "the Kosovars are now independent", a small but significant number of EU nations indicated they would not follow suit.

As Serbia recalled its ambassador to Washington, the Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, told MPs: "This decision by the US will not turn the false state [Kosovo] into a real one. The government has ordered the immediate withdrawal of the ambassador."

After a day of talks in Brussels, six countries – Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus – all said they were unwilling to recognise Kosovo amid concern that the move would give succour to separatist movements across Europe.

Spain's Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, said: "The Spanish government is not going to recognise the unilateral act proclaimed yesterday [Sunday] by the Kosovar assembly. We are not going to recognise it because we do not consider that it respects international law."

But David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said at least half of the EU members had decided to recognise an independent Kosovo. "This Kosovan question represents the last piece of the Yugoslav jigsaw," he added. "We believe it is a unique case – that is evidenced in the statement you have seen from all 27. It is unique above all because, for nine years, Kosovo has been an international protectorate within a sovereign country."

Although the Kosovo declaration was carefully co-ordinated with the US and EU over several months, the Europeans may have been taken aback by the scale of the protests which suggested that the move by Pristina could rekindle hostilities in the Balkans.

Dissenting states pointed to the "illegal" nature of the break with Serbia, which took place without formal UN authorisation, or the precedent of unilateral action which could lead to their own separatist regions seceding. But supporters of independence say that Kosovo is a unique case.

The divisions within the EU recall the diplomatic crisis caused by Croatia's declaration of independence during the break-up of Yugoslavia. Those divisions handicapped the bloc's response to the emerging crisis in the Balkans.

Last night, Russia scheduled a public session of the UN Security Council – the second emergency meeting since Sunday. But Russia does not have the power at the UN to reverse the decision announced by Kosovo's Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, on Sunday.

China expressed "deep concern" and became embroiled in a spat with Taiwan, considered a renegade province by Beijing, which wished Kosovo a "bright and prosperous future" as an independent state.

Speaking last night, the Serbian President, Boris Tadic, reiterated that Belgrade saw the secession of its renegade province as a violation of international law. "If you cast a blind eye to this illegal act, who guarantees to you that parts of your countries will not declare independence in the same illegal way?" he said.

International recognition is crucial for Kosovo to be able to seek assistance from such organisations as the World Bank, where Russia has a seat. At the Security Council debate on Sunday night, the European supporters of Kosovo contended in a joint statement that there was no alternative to independence. Meanwhile, Muslim-dominated Indonesia, followed by Azerbaijan and Vietnam, indicated that they were opposed to independence for the Kosovars.

Despite the reservations by some EU states on recognition, the bloc is sending a justice and law mission of 2,000 police, judges and administrators to Pristina.

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