Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe that recognising Kosovo is not an expression of hostility to Serbia.
The OSCE is the international organisation charged with promoting political stability in Europe.
Mr Ahern indicated yesterday that Ireland would soon decide on whether to recognise the new state.
Speaking in Vienna this morning he said change in Kosovo's status had been made inevitable by its legacy of conflict.
Serbia and Russia are bitterly opposed to any recognition of the new state and the issue has been central to talks the Taoiseach held in Slovenia at the start of his European trip this week.
Mr Ahern also said implementing the Lisbon Treaty would enable the EU to enhance its peace keeping role on the world state and that he would be working hard at home to make sure it is strongly endorsed by the people in the forthcoming referendum.
He said he looked forward to the people giving a strong endorsement to the EU treaty.
He suggested that the No camp were resorting to scaremongering and 'nonsense arguments' as they had in previous polls.
Mr Ahern welcomed the appointment of Jeffrey Donaldson as a junior minister in Northern Ireland, describing him as a progressive person.
He said there was an inevitability about the departure of Ian Paisley but said he hoped the First Minister would be around for some time to come.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is in Austria for a series of meetings. He will meet Austrian Prime Minister Alfred Gusenbauer and pay a call on President Heinz Fischer in Vienna.
