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Russia to shore up Serbia support | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The man tipped to succeed Vladimir Putin as Russian president is due in Serbia, as the two countries continue to oppose Kosovan independence. | |
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is travelling to the capital, Belgrade, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. | |
The Russian foreign ministry has accused the United States of "flagrant cynicism" in recognising Kosovo's declaration of independence a week ago. | |
The issue sparked protests in Belgrade | |
last week. | |
Correspondents say that, with Mr Medvedev the favourite to win next month's presidential election in Russia, the high-powered nature of Russia's delegation is a sign of the strength of the country's backing for Serbia. | |
He and Mr Lavrov are scheduled to hold talks with Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. | |
See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown | See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown |
"Do support for the Kosovo Albanian side alone, contempt for law for the sake of so-called 'political expediency', and indifference to the fate of 100,000 Serbs who... are effectively being driven into a ghetto, not amount to flagrant cynicism?" Russia's foreign ministry asked in a statement on Sunday. | |
The statement followed a comment by US Assistant Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, who accused Russia of aggravating tensions over the Kosovo issue. | |
Border posts row | |
Also on Monday, Belgrade government ministers are due to visit Serbian communities in Kosovo to press their message that Belgrade still regards Kosovo as its own. | |
Serbs have turned against those who recognise the new Kosovo EU fired up by KosovoAnger mounts in Mitrovica Serbian Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic will lead the delegation. | |
But reports suggest Mr Samardzic will be denied entry until he apologises for comments seemingly condoning violence. | |
Mr Samardzic described the burning down of two border posts on 19 February by crowds of Kosovan Serbs as "legitimate" acts. | Mr Samardzic described the burning down of two border posts on 19 February by crowds of Kosovan Serbs as "legitimate" acts. |
Two days later, western embassies were attacked in Belgrade, acts which Mr Samardzic blamed on the US for accepting Kosovo's declaration of independence last Sunday. | Two days later, western embassies were attacked in Belgrade, acts which Mr Samardzic blamed on the US for accepting Kosovo's declaration of independence last Sunday. |
"The US is the major culprit for all troubles since 17 February," Mr Samardzic told the state news agency Tanjug. | "The US is the major culprit for all troubles since 17 February," Mr Samardzic told the state news agency Tanjug. |
"The root of violence is the violation of international law." | "The root of violence is the violation of international law." |
Well-informed sources have suggested Mr Samardzic will be asked to apologise for these comments before being allowed into Kosovo, says the BBC's central Europe reporter Nick Thorpe. | Well-informed sources have suggested Mr Samardzic will be asked to apologise for these comments before being allowed into Kosovo, says the BBC's central Europe reporter Nick Thorpe. |
Mitrovica fears | |
Kosovo remained calm on Sunday, and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci marked the first week of independence with a visit to the grave of Kosovo's late president, Ibrahim Rugova. | Kosovo remained calm on Sunday, and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci marked the first week of independence with a visit to the grave of Kosovo's late president, Ibrahim Rugova. |
Mr Thaci used the occasion to call on Kosovo's Serbian minority to integrate. | Mr Thaci used the occasion to call on Kosovo's Serbian minority to integrate. |
But the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica was bracing itself for more tension. | But the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica was bracing itself for more tension. |
Albanian staff have been prevented from returning to work at the town's UN-administered court on safety grounds, while Serbs who used to work there are demanding their old jobs back. | Albanian staff have been prevented from returning to work at the town's UN-administered court on safety grounds, while Serbs who used to work there are demanding their old jobs back. |
Any attempt by the Serbs to use force to occupy the building would be a test of UN resolve to maintain at least a semblance of multi-ethnic administration in the troubled northern town, says our correspondent. | Any attempt by the Serbs to use force to occupy the building would be a test of UN resolve to maintain at least a semblance of multi-ethnic administration in the troubled northern town, says our correspondent. |
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