The cabinet of outgoing Premier Romano Prodi on Thursday gave its green light to the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state.
Speaking to the press after the decision, Prodi said that all ministers voted in favor with the exception of Welfare Minister Paolo Ferrero of Communist Refoundation.
In announcing the decision, Prodi stressed that ''the recognition of Kosovo's independence is not against Serbia, with which Italy has and will continue to have a relationship based on friendship and affection''.
''Italy has always been close to Serbia and even my most recent phone conversation with its president (Boris Tadic), a very benevolent person, was a conversation between friendly nations which find themselves caught in a difficult situation, but still remain friends,'' Prodi added ''Italy has always been on the side of those who want Serbia to join the EU as quickly as possible because Serbia is a great nation,'' the premier added.
According to Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema, Italy's recognition of Kosovo's independence ''was not a decision motivated by hostility''.
Turning his attention to Italy's presence in a new European Union mission in Kosovo, D'Alema observed ''Italy's presence in the Balkans is an element of moderation and a guarantee for all''.
Italy is a lead player in the EU mission which is aimed at maintaining civil law and order in the province after it declared independence.
The mission replaces a similar one which has been run by the United Nations over the past nine years.
Sources at the Serbian embassy in Rome said they had not officially been informed of Rome's decision to recognise Kosovo but that once this did take place ''a letter of protest will be sent to the Italian foreign ministry and our ambassador will be recalled to Belgrade''.
Serbia, which hopes to move closer to the European Union, has recalled its ambassadors to Washington, Paris, Berlin and some other countries in protest to their recognition of Kosovo.
However, although Belgrade has recalled its ambassadors, it has not broken off diplomatic relations with these countries.
Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence on Sunday.
The move had the backing of the major Western powers which believed it was impossible to restore Serb rule in the province after nine years under UN administration.
Serbia, backed by Russia, fiercely opposed the secession of Kosovo, its medieval heartland which is now 90% ethnically Albanian.
Ferrero later said that his Communist Refoundation party opposed Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independenfe because is set ''a dangerous precedent'' and was ''in violation of international law''.
