Belgrade Gets No Love From It's Neighbors

Serbia's neighbours Montenegro and Macedonia have recognised Kosovo in a blow to Belgrade's efforts to counter the secession of its former province.

On Wednesday, the United Nations' General Assembly supported Serbia's initiative to seek an International Court of Justice opinion on the legality of the independence declaration made by Kosovo in February and recognised by 48, mostly Western states.

Serbia had hoped that it would stop the further recognition of its former province.

But Montenegro and Macedonia, the only two former Yugoslav republics that ended their union with Serbia peacefully, on Thursday recognised Kosovo and issued a joint statement.

"The decision to recognise Kosovo .... is the result of thorough political assessment," the joint statement issued in Skopje following a government session said.

Sourced from the Website of Al Jazeera English