Honduras has become the first nation to recognize Kosovo after the ruling of the UN Court in July, which has largely been seen as favorable to the declaration of independence of the former Serbian province.

On Friday, the Foreign Ministry of Honduras issued a communique formally announcing the recognition of independent Kosovo by the Central American republic.

It said that Honduran Foreign Minister Mario Canahuati notified his Kosovo counterpart Skender Hyseni about his country's decision.

The two have agreed to start immediately procedures for establishing diplomatic relations.

Kosovo broke off from Serbia in February 2008, and has been recognized by 70 nations so far, including the US and 22 of the 27 EU member states. Bulgaria was the 32nd to recognize Kosovo (March 2008).

The advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in the Hague issued in July 2010 at the request of the UN General Assembly, where Serbia took the case of Kosovo's independence, declared that the declaration of independence of the former Serbian province was not contrary to international law.