Podgorica, Oct 10 (DPA) Montenegro has formally recognised the independence of the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo.With the unanimous decision by the government, Montenegro became the 50th state to recognize the mostly ethnic Albanian republic, Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rochen announced here late Thursday.

The US, Japan and nearly all EU states have already recognised Kosovo’s independence.

Montenegro and Serbia was part of a common state until two years ago when a referendum to split the two entities was implemented.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic had earlier called possible recognition of Kosovo by Montenegro a “stab in the back” for Serbia.