The NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said in Madrid yesterday that Spain’s decision not to recognize Kosovo will not stop it from participating in KFOR – Kosovo Force, the NATO-led international force responsible for establishing a safe and secure environment in Kosovo.

In a joint press conference with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, de Hoop Scheffer said, “NATO does not get involved in recognition, that’s not its mission, and Spain’s position on the matter is by no means out of line.”

He said, “Recognition (of Kosovo independence) is a legitimate position, but so too is non-recognition.” According to the NATO chief, KFOR forces were deployed in Kosovo to “bring security and stability to all Kosovars, be they Serbs or Albanians, minority or majority.”

Up to now, around 40 of the UN’s 192 members have recognized Kosovo’s independence declaration of February 17, including the U.S., but Serbia, with Russia’s support, opposes the move. Spain, facing with Basque and Catalan separatist movements, also opposes Kosovo independence, and deems the unilateral independence declaration to be a breach of international law, and sees it as a potential source of tension in the Balkans. In spite of Madrid’s position on the matter, the government has nonetheless decided to retain its contingent of 585 soldiers within KFOR.