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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government is still waiting for the results of a discussion in the UN Security Council to adopt a stand on Kosovo`s independence, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

Unlike European nations, Indonesia as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council is still monitoring developments affecting the issue, Yudhoyono said at a press conference with visiting Finnish President Tarja Halonen here Monday.

Yudhoyono said Indonesia respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country and was aware that the situation in Kosovo was the result of the uncompleted process of deconstruction among the nations which once made up the former Yugoslavia.

The Indonesian president noted that a number of parties were trying to settle the crisis in Kosovo but until now their efforts had yet to yield a solution.

"From the Indonesian representative to the UN, I received reports last night about a UN Security Council meeting but it still discussed the legality of Kosovo`s declaration of independence, thus we are still monitoring further developments around the matter," he said.

The Indonesian government was also expected to consult the House of Representatives (DPR) before taking a stand on the situation in Kosovo.

Meanwhile, Finnish President Tarja Halonen said his country also had not yet taken a stance on the situation in Kosovo.

He said the important thing was how to maintain the peaceful and constructive situation in Kosovo.

On Sunday, February 17, 2008, Kosovo, a nation of ethnic Albanians, declared its independence from Serbia.

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci read out the declaration of independence. He said Kosovo as a democratic country had full powers and independence.

Kosovo`s independence declaration received full support from the United States, Britain and the European Union.

Kosovo has two million people 80 percent of whom are ethnic Albanians and the rest Serbians.

Kosovo has been under the supervision of the UN since the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) withdrew its 2,000 troops from the region in 1999.

The European Union planned to take over the UN`s task following the declaration of Kosovo`s independence and NATO was going to take the role in keeping stability following the declaration.(*)

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