Kosovo's declaration of independence on February 17 2008 has elicited a wide range of emotions, from the sheer and utter happiness of the Kosovar Albanians dancing in the streets of Kosovo towns to the fury of the Serbs throwing stones at the embassies of Western 'traitors' in Belgrade.

Although so far no country has officially declared its stand on Kosovo's independence, expectations are there will be two major blocs. The first one, comprising NATO and European Union (EU) states, has already expressed its support for Kosovo's independence, claiming all other attempts to solve the Kosovo problem so far have proved themselves inefficient.

Key powers in this bloc, which include the US and EU powerhouses Britain, France and Germany, are expected to recognise Kosovo as an independent state, while the latter three would also try to convince other EU member states to come out with a common stand on the Kosovo issue.

Then there is the other bloc - Serbia, fiercely protecting its territorial integrity, saying Kosovo is Serbia's, and that it would never recognise an independent Kosovar state. Belgrade is backed by Russia, who branded Kosovo's independence declaration as an illegal act.

Other countries such as China (who, like Russia, is a veto-holder at United Nations' Security Council), Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Spain and Slovakia, although not stating an official stand, already expressed their concerns with Kosovo becoming an independent state, most of them fearing the Kosovo events can set a precedent for similar separatist acts in other troubled areas.  

One thing is for sure – few are those who would remain impartial. And while the new Kosovar state is waiting for its recognition, here is what politicians around the world have said on the topic in the past 24 hours:

“The day has come...From this day onwards, Kosovo is proud, independent and free,” Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci. (CNN)

“As long as the Serb people exist, Kosovo will be Serbia,” Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica. (BBC)

“I call upon you to ensure that your Special Representative in Kosovo exercises his powers and responsibilities by immediately declaring this illegal act null and void,” Serbian president Boris Tadic in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. (Tanjug)

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon advised all parties to “refrain from any actions or statements that could endanger peace, incite violence or jeopardize security in Kosovo and the region”. (CNN)

“We are heartened by the fact that the Kosovo government has clearly proclaimed its willingness and its desire to support Serbian rights in Kosovo...
We also believe it's in Serbia's interests to be aligned with Europe and the Serbian people can know that they have a friend in America,” US president George Bush. (BBC)

“Our position is that this declaration should be disregarded by the international community,” Vitali Churkin, Russia's UN ambassador. (CNN)

“We have consistently said we see the (Ahtisaari) proposal for supervised independence to which Kosovo has committed itself in its declaration as the most viable way forward,” UK Foreign Office spokeswoman. (BBC)

“Kosovo's unilateral act can produce a series of results that will lead to seriously negative influence on peace and stability in the Balkan region,” Liu Jianchao, spokesman of China's foreign ministry (Xinhua news agency).

“I wish good luck to Kosovo,” French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner. (BBC)

“In the near future Abkhazia will appeal to the Russian parliament and the UN Security Council with a request to recognise its independence,” self-declared Abkhaz president Sergei Bagapsh. (BBC)