Related: China "Gravely Concerned" over Kosovo Independence

               US Formally Recognizes Kosovo as Independent State

              Serbia Recalls Envoys from Nations Recognizing Kosovo Independence

              NATO Promises to Continue to Fulfill Duties in Kosovo

              UN Security Council Debates Kosovo in Emergency Session

Countries and international organizations continued to react with mixed stances on Kosovo's declaration of independence.

Following Serbia's ambassador recall from the United States in protest against America's recognition of Kosovo as "a sovereign and independent state," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Serbian President Boris Tadic Monday to stress the two countries' "strong relationship."

She also called called Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a bid to iron out tensions between the two countries after Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.

Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado said Monday that his nation was on the way to recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, but must first consult domestically and with other European Union (EU) nations.

"We will take a decision at the time we consider most appropriate in close dialogue with our European partners," Amado told Portuguese media from Belgian capital Brussels, where he was meeting with EU Foreign Ministers on the issue.

According to a statement issued after a heated meeting among EU foreign ministers, member states would individually decide, in accordance with national practice and international law, on their relations with Kosovo.

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said Monday he would recommend the government establish relations with the authorities in Kosovo.

"Guided by the priority to maintain stability in the region as well as the solidarity with our EU partners, I will recommend to the Bulgarian government to adopt a decision, in accordance with national legislation, for establishing relations with the Kosovo authorities," Kalfin was quoted by local press as saying.

"This decision will be closely related to the further adoption by the Kosovo institutions of effective constitutional guarantees and other relevant legislation to ensure the fulfillment of the above mentioned principles as well as to the developments in Kosovo in the coming weeks," Kalfin said.