The Kosovo situation and the possible actions of the Bulgarian Government were the subject of
discussions of the Security Council operating under the Government, the Government's Information Service said on Tuesday.

At the meeting the line ministers and heads of special services provided information about the situation in Kosovo and in Serbia. The participants in the meeting discussed possible courses of action in different developments in Kosovo, BTA reported.

The question of recognizing Kosovo's independence is being discussed with Bulgaria's partners, including with Croatia and Hungary, the Foreign Ministry said, quoted by Agence France Presse, that Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria, who border on Serbia, may recognize Kosovo's independence on Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry said that when a decision is reached, it will be made public.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP, the senior partner in the three-party ruling coalition) BSP Spokesman Angel Naidenov said that he "could neither deny nor confirm" the statement that Bulgaria, as well as Croatia and Hungary, are going to recognize Kosovo's independence on Wednesday.

"The Kosovo authorities demonstrate a very careful approach and caution both with regard to domestic politics and also to ethnic and religious minorities," Naidenov said. He stressed that the Kosovo authorities also demonstrate a careful attitude to the international factors, irrespective of the fact whether or not they have recognized its independence.

"We also have reasons to note the planned approach in the passage of the laws relating to key items on the Ahtisaari Plan, namely, the guarantees for Kosovo's development as a multi-ethnic and democratic country," Naidenov said. He also said that the public discussion of the bill of the Kosovo constitution, which too contains a sufficient number of such provisions, is going according to schedule.

Naidenov described the actions of the Serbs in the area of the Kosovo town of Mitrovica as inadmissible, saying that the developments there are a cause of concern.

Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, however, said that Bulgaria's recognizing Kosovo's independence on Wednesday is impossible since there is not a meeting of the Government scheduled for this day.