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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has yet to recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign nation separated from the Serb Republic following its unilateral declaration of independence, an official spokesman said.

"The Indonesian government will observe closely developments in Kosovo and is not yet in a position to give its recognition to the unilaterally declared independence," Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo said on Sunday night.

He said the Indonesian government was hoping the declaration would not trigger unrest or open conflict, especialy with Serbia, given the fact that many people had already become victims of the conflict in the Balkan region.

He said the Indonesian government`s mind was open enough to view the Kosovo issue as part of a series of specific problems that were faced by parts or ethnic groups in the former Yugoslav federation in the past 15 years which led to the birth of several independent entities.

Kristiarto added Indonesia also deplored the failure of dialog and negotiations to yield a solution to the dispute so that it led to the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in its capital city of Pristina on Sunday. The declaration was read by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in a parliamentary session attended by 109 members.

Some 90 percent of the Kosovo people are ethnic Albanians. Beograd is against the separation.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic at a session of the United Nations Security Council in New York asked the Council to reject Kosovo`s independence.

The meeting was convened at Serbia`s request to discuss the future of Kosovo, one of Serbia`s provinces.(*)

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