Spanish parliament rejects initiative to recognize Kosovo

BELGRADE, Serbia

Spain’s parliament on Thursday rejected the initiative of some parties from the Catalan region for recognition of the Balkan nation of Kosovo.

The initiative was rejected overwhelmingly by a vote of 293-25, with 27 abstentions.

The proposal was brought to the floor Thursday by Junts, a Catalan separatist party.

Junts MP Eduard Pujol said earlier on Tuesday that Kosovo is a "state of law" and that its decision to declare independence was recognized by the International Court of Justice.

Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 is currently not recognized by five members of the European Union: Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and the Greek Cypriot administration.

The EU countries in question recognize the travel documents of the Republic of Kosovo.

Serbia, a EU hopeful, has never recognized Kosovo’s independence, and still calls Kosovo part of its territory.

Israel is the last country to recognize Kosovo's independence.