BUCHAREST, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Romania will not recognize the independence of Kosovo province, Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said Friday.

    Tariceanu made the statement before heading to Brussels to attend a one-day summit of the European Council, the state Rompresnews agency reported.

    The prime minister stressed that "there is a strong interest in supporting a common position related to this matter" in Europe.

    "But there is a problem on which Romania's stand is quite clear: we will not recognize the independence of Kosovo province, as we have serious doubts related to how such a status of independence should be granted and also related to the possible consequences for the entire Western Balkan region," Tariceanu said.

    European Union leaders and foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss Kosovo during a working lunch Friday on the sidelines of the winter session of the European Council in Brussels.