The Yugoslav foreign minister, Zivadin Jovanovic, has strongly criticised the European Union's decision to impose economic sanctions on Yugoslavia because of its actions in Kosovo.

Speaking at the end of a conference of Balkan foreign ministers in Istanbul, Mr Jovanovic said the sanctions were unprovoked and not the way to promote dialogue.

There was also criticism from the Greek foreign minister, Theodoros Pangalos, who said the sanctions would make every country in the region suffer.

He said Greece accepted European solidarity, but this did not mean the decision taken by the EU was the best possible option.