ROME (AFP) - Foreign Minister of Italy Massimo D'Alema said Wednesday that 200 Italian justice officials and police would go to Kosovo as part of the E.U. mission aimed at helping the Serbian province move towards independence.

"The E.U. will support the civil administration of Kosovo with 2,000 people. Italy will be the first to contribute with a contingent of 200 judges and police," D'Alema told parliament, according to the ANSA news agency.

E.U. member states with the exception of Cyprus, who abstained, approved Monday a mission to help ease Kosovo's transition to independence from Serbia, although no launch date was set.

The contingent of mostly police and justice officials was agreed the day after Serbia's pro-Western President Boris Tadic won re-election against an ultra- nationalist who preferred closer ties with Russia.

Kosovo has been under United Nations administration since 1999, when a NATO bombing campaign forced Belgrade-backed forces to end a brutal crackdown on the province's majority ethnic Albanians.

The E.U. is keen to have its mission in place before Kosovo declares its independence from Belgrade, which is expected soon.

Most E.U. nations, and the U.S., are ready to recognize an independent Kosovo, despite staunch opposition from Serbia and its ally Russia.

The next E.U. foreign ministers meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18 in Brussels.

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