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'Early independence' for Kosovo 'Early independence' for Kosovo
(about 7 hours later)
Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia "much earlier" than next May, a Kosovo Albanian spokesman says. Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia "much earlier" than next May, the Kosovo Albanian government says.
The statement comes as a UN deadline for agreement on the future of Kosovo is set to expire, after months of talks which have failed to break a deadlock. The statement came as a UN deadline for agreement on the future of the province expired. Months of talks had failed to break the deadlock.
Kosovo is still a province of Serbia, but ethnic Albanian leaders there have threatened to declare independence after Monday's deadline passes. EU nations failed to adopt a joint stance on whether to recognise independence at talks on Monday.
EU diplomats say they are close to reaching a unified position on Kosovo. Serbia's president says he wants an international court to decide if the move to independence would be legal.
Foreign ministers from the bloc are meeting in Brussels ahead of a leaders' summit on Friday. Boris Tadic said he wanted the UN Security Council to ask the International Court of Justice to examine the case.
Serbia has previously pledged to use all peaceful means to prevent Kosovo declaring independence - and it now seems the legal side of that campaign has begun, says the BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade.
Map showing distribution of Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo Map showing distribution of Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo
EU member states have been divided over whether to recognise a Kosovan declaration of independence. Kosovo is still a province of Serbia but ethnic Albanian leaders there threatened to declare independence.
Kosovan government spokesman Skender Hyseni said a declaration of independence was "not an issue of if, but when". Declaration looms
Kosovo government spokesman Skender Hyseni said a declaration of independence was not a matter of "if, but when".
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"Kosovo will look at its own agenda, but it will certainly be much earlier than May," Mr Hyseni said. "Kosovo will look at its own agenda, but it will certainly be much earlier than May," he said.
Russia, a strong backer of Serbia, has warned against a unilateral declaration of independence. EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels said they had come close to a common position, with the UK, Germany, France and Italy all indicating they would support a declaration of independence.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said recognition of a unilateral declaration of independence would "create a chain reaction throughout the Balkans and other areas of the world". Only Cyprus still wants a UN Security Council resolution before accepting a declaration of independence.
But Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders have support from many European countries and the United States in their push for independence from Serbia. There will be an EU summit at the end of the week at which leaders will be under pressure to issue a statement in favour of independence, our correspondent says.
EU deliberations
Ahead of Monday's EU meeting in Brussels, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said there was nearly consensus among EU members over Kosovo.
Only Cyprus still wanted a UN Security Council resolution before accepting a declaration of independence, Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.
Greece, Slovakia and Spain had earlier also been reluctant to endorse a unilateral declaration of independence from Kosovo, fearing it might set a dangerous precedent for separatist movements closer to home.
A march on Monday attracted thousands of Kosovo Albanians
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon set a deadline of 10 December for mediators from the "troika" of the EU, US and Russia to broker a deal between Kosovo and Serbia, but the talks failed.
A report from the mediators delivered on Friday said: "Neither party was willing to concede its position on the fundamental question of sovereignty on Kosovo".
Nato - fearing a violent Serbian reaction - has said it will keep 16,000 troops in Kosovo to deter any clashes.
On Monday, thousands of ethnic Albanian students marched from Pristina University to Kosovo's parliament demanding an immediate declaration of independence.On Monday, thousands of ethnic Albanian students marched from Pristina University to Kosovo's parliament demanding an immediate declaration of independence.
The marchers carried US and Albanian flags, as well as posters bearing slogans such as "Independence is the only option" and "Europe, show some unity."The marchers carried US and Albanian flags, as well as posters bearing slogans such as "Independence is the only option" and "Europe, show some unity."
Discrimination fears Russian opposition
The UN's top administrator in Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, has put forward a plan offering Kosovo "supervised independence". Russia, a strong backer of Serbia, warned against a unilateral declaration of independence, saying it would "create a chain reaction throughout the Balkans and other areas of the world".
The plan - accepted by the ethnic Albanians - would mean international agencies gradually steering Kosovo's institutions towards independence, while safeguarding the rights and property of the Serbian minority. A march on Monday attracted thousands of Kosovo Albanians
Kosovo's Albanian leaders want nothing less than independence UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had set a deadline of 10 December for mediators from the "troika" of the EU, US and Russia to broker a deal between Kosovo and Serbia, but the talks failed.
But Serbia has rejected the plan, insisting that Kosovo must remain an integral part of Serbia. UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari had put forward a plan offering Kosovo "supervised independence".
The plan - accepted by the ethnic Albanians - would have meant international agencies gradually steering Kosovo's institutions towards independence, while safeguarding the rights and property of the Serbian minority.
But Serbia rejected it, insisting that Kosovo must remain an integral part of Serbia.
Belgrade also fears discrimination against ethnic Serbs would go unpunished in an independent Kosovo.Belgrade also fears discrimination against ethnic Serbs would go unpunished in an independent Kosovo.
Nato was criticised after it failed to prevent riots by ethnic Albanians in 2004 in which Serbs were attacked. Nineteen people died in the violence.Nato was criticised after it failed to prevent riots by ethnic Albanians in 2004 in which Serbs were attacked. Nineteen people died in the violence.
Nato - fearing a violent Serbian reaction - has said it will keep 16,000 troops in Kosovo to deter any clashes.
Though technically part of Serbia, Kosovo has been administered by the UN for the last eight years.Though technically part of Serbia, Kosovo has been administered by the UN for the last eight years.
Belgrade's security forces were driven out of Kosovo by a Nato bombing campaign in 1999, launched to stop a violent Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanians.Belgrade's security forces were driven out of Kosovo by a Nato bombing campaign in 1999, launched to stop a violent Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanians.
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