Burundi

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic assessed on Friday that Burundi, with its decision last year's to withdraw recognition of Kosovo, has contributed to a change in the balance of powers in the international arena and the position of Serbia in the negotiation process, the Serbian government announced.

This was stated by Nikola Gruevski, the former Macedonian prime minister who has received asylum in Hungary.

First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said this on Wednesday in Belgrade, and pointed out that Serbia has strengthened its position on the international scene.

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said this for Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti.

He thus reacted to the assertion of Kosovo Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli that he had "knowledge" of Belgrade "promising financial support and arms" to some smaller countries in return for revoking their recognition of Kosovo.

"What I learned is that some of the smaller and poorer countries have fallen for such promises," said Behgjet Pacolli, according to Pristina-based daily Bota Sot.

"It will be the 10th country that has done so," Dacic told RTS on Wednesday.

B92 later learned, and it has in the meantime been confirmed, that recognition of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo has been withdrawn by the Union of the Comoros - a small island state in the Indian Ocean that recognized Kosovo in 20009.

Serbia's First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic announced this on Friday.

Dacic broke the news to the agency Tanjug.

Earlier, Suriname, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea-Bissau, Burundi, Papua New Guinea and Lessoto all decided to rescind their earlier decisions regarding Kosovo.

"At least about ten countries are currently weighing their position. Many countries recognized Kosovo without having the right information at their disposal, and now, when they see how things really are, they are reexamining their decisions," the foreign minister told Vecernje Novosti, adding:

The embassies and honorary consulates of African countries in Greece are holding the 17th African Festival of food, music and handicrafts over the weekend of May 12-13.

Romania and France share the same spirit in addressing the judicial matters and the state bodies, on Thursday said the Romanian Ombudsman, Victor Ciorbea.