Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Hashim Thaci on adoption of declaration on Kosovo independence. "Turkey closely watches developments in the region and hopes that the unity of all nations in Kosovo will help its future," Erdogan said during a phone conversation.

For his part, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat also welcomed proclamation of independence by the breakaway province. "I am hopeful that Kosovo's independence will contribute to stability in Balkans and that the European Union will approach with issue with responsibility," he said, RIA Novosti reports.