Bush recognises Kosovo, says will bring peace

By Deborah Charles

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush recognized on Tuesday the independence of Kosovo from Serbia and said it would bring peace to the Balkans.

Bush said in Dar es Salaam that the United States would soon establish full diplomatic relations with the new state, home to 2 million ethnic Albanians, that seceded from Serbia on Sunday.

"We will work with the leaders of Kosovo to carry out a smooth and peaceful transition to independence," Bush said to reporters shortly before leaving Tanzania for Rwanda, the third leg of his five-country African tour.

Serbia has recalled its ambassador from Washington to protest against American recognition of Kosovo, first announced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday. Russia also strongly opposes independence.

The Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, called Kosovo's declaration "a blatant breach of the norms and principles of international law."

But Bush said the United States had been in close touch with Moscow and that U.S. recognition of Kosovo should have been expected.

"We have been in close consultation with the Russians all along. This wasn't a surprise to Russia," Bush said.

Washington's action followed recognition of Kosovo by Europe's largest states -- France, Britain, Italy and Germany -- and some Muslim states, such as Afghanistan. More countries are expected to follow suit, although Spain, facing its own separatist struggles, has said it will not recognize Kosovo.