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Serbia rejects Kosovo breakaway Serbia rejects Kosovo breakaway
(20 minutes later)
Serbia's president says he will never accept the independence of Kosovo, after the publication of a UN plan which could allow it to separate.Serbia's president says he will never accept the independence of Kosovo, after the publication of a UN plan which could allow it to separate.
UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan recommends that Kosovo should govern itself democratically and be able to make international agreements.UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan recommends that Kosovo should govern itself democratically and be able to make international agreements.
But President Boris Tadic said the plan paved the way for independence, which he and Serbia would not accept.But President Boris Tadic said the plan paved the way for independence, which he and Serbia would not accept.
The UN has run Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign in 1999. Kosovo's leader said he believed the process would end in full independence.
"Kosovo will be sovereign like all other countries," President Fatmir Sejdiu said, after meeting Mr Ahtisaari.
'Dangerous precedent''Dangerous precedent'
Speaking after a meeting with the UN special envoy in Belgrade, Mr Tadic said the plan would set "an extremely dangerous political and legal precedent". The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign forced out Serbian troops in 1999.
Talks to determine Kosovo's final status have been continuing for years without the two sides coming to agreement. Talks to determine the province's final status have been continuing for years without the two sides coming to agreement.
Mr Ahtisaari says the proposals are a compromise between ethnic Albanian aspirations for an independent Kosovo and Serbia's wish to keep the province as part of its territory.Mr Ahtisaari says the proposals are a compromise between ethnic Albanian aspirations for an independent Kosovo and Serbia's wish to keep the province as part of its territory.
Kosovo's President, Fatmir Sejdiu, welcomed the plans, saying the leaders of the province were convinced the process would lead to "Kosovo becoming an independent state".
KEY PROPOSAL POINTS Contains no reference to Serbian sovereignty or independence for KosovoBlocks Kosovo from joining Albania, or having its Serb areas split off and join SerbiaKosovo can use national symbolsKosovo can join international organisationsCreates international envoy mandated by UN and EU with power to intervene in governmentRetains Nato and EU forces in military and policing rolesProtects non-Albanian minority with guaranteed roles in government, police and civil serviceProtects Serbian Orthodox Church sites and Serbian language Ethnic Albanians make up 90% of the province's two million people.KEY PROPOSAL POINTS Contains no reference to Serbian sovereignty or independence for KosovoBlocks Kosovo from joining Albania, or having its Serb areas split off and join SerbiaKosovo can use national symbolsKosovo can join international organisationsCreates international envoy mandated by UN and EU with power to intervene in governmentRetains Nato and EU forces in military and policing rolesProtects non-Albanian minority with guaranteed roles in government, police and civil serviceProtects Serbian Orthodox Church sites and Serbian language Ethnic Albanians make up 90% of the province's two million people.
According to the UN, more than 220,000 non-Albanian Kosovans are living as internally displaced refugees in Serbia and Montenegro.According to the UN, more than 220,000 non-Albanian Kosovans are living as internally displaced refugees in Serbia and Montenegro.
The ethnic Albanian majority overwhelmingly want to break away from Serbia.The ethnic Albanian majority overwhelmingly want to break away from Serbia.
But Serbs regard the province - which is still officially part of Serbia - as the cradle of their culture, and oppose any solution that would lead to its independence.But Serbs regard the province - which is still officially part of Serbia - as the cradle of their culture, and oppose any solution that would lead to its independence.
Mr Ahtisaari's plan amounts to "independence, subject to international supervision", said one Western diplomat, who wished to remain unnamed.Mr Ahtisaari's plan amounts to "independence, subject to international supervision", said one Western diplomat, who wished to remain unnamed.
Kosovo would be allowed its own national symbols, including a flag and anthem, and to apply for membership of international organisations like the United Nations.Kosovo would be allowed its own national symbols, including a flag and anthem, and to apply for membership of international organisations like the United Nations.
Serb rightsSerb rights
It would not be unconditional independence, however.It would not be unconditional independence, however.
An "international community representative" would be appointed, with powers to intervene if Kosovo tried to go further than the plan allowed, while Nato and EU forces would remain in military and policing roles.An "international community representative" would be appointed, with powers to intervene if Kosovo tried to go further than the plan allowed, while Nato and EU forces would remain in military and policing roles.
Kosovo could not be partitioned between Serbian and ethnic Albanian areas, nor would Kosovo be allowed to join any other state - implicitly ruling out the creation of a "greater Albania".Kosovo could not be partitioned between Serbian and ethnic Albanian areas, nor would Kosovo be allowed to join any other state - implicitly ruling out the creation of a "greater Albania".
Serbia would have to accept the loss of Kosovo. Kosovo would have to accept... limits on its sovereignty Western diplomat Analysis: Not end of storySerbia would have to accept the loss of Kosovo. Kosovo would have to accept... limits on its sovereignty Western diplomat Analysis: Not end of story
The interests of Kosovo's Serbs, including the Serbian Orthodox Church and the language, would be explicitly protected, and there would be guaranteed Serb representation in parliament, the police and civil service.The interests of Kosovo's Serbs, including the Serbian Orthodox Church and the language, would be explicitly protected, and there would be guaranteed Serb representation in parliament, the police and civil service.
The UN Security Council will have the final say on whether to adopt the plan.The UN Security Council will have the final say on whether to adopt the plan.