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| Serbia defies EU deadline to give Kosovo independence | Serbia defies EU deadline to give Kosovo independence |
| (8 days later) | |
| Serbia rejected a European Union-brokered deal for reconciliation with its former province of Kosovo on Monday – a defiant move that could jeopardise its EU membership aspirations and fuel tensions in the Balkans. The EU had given Serbia until Tuesday to say whether it would relinquish its effective control over the northern region in exchange for the start of EU membership negotiations. | Serbia rejected a European Union-brokered deal for reconciliation with its former province of Kosovo on Monday – a defiant move that could jeopardise its EU membership aspirations and fuel tensions in the Balkans. The EU had given Serbia until Tuesday to say whether it would relinquish its effective control over the northern region in exchange for the start of EU membership negotiations. |
| Even before the government rejection, Aleksandar Vucic, the deputy prime minister and Serbia's most powerful governing party leader, said the plan was unacceptable because it did not give more autonomy to minority ethnic Serbs in Kosovo who, together with Serbia, reject Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. | Even before the government rejection, Aleksandar Vucic, the deputy prime minister and Serbia's most powerful governing party leader, said the plan was unacceptable because it did not give more autonomy to minority ethnic Serbs in Kosovo who, together with Serbia, reject Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. |
| "The Serbian government cannot accept the proposed principles ... because they do not guarantee full security, survival and protection of human rights for the Serbs in Kosovo," said Ivica Dacic, the prime minister. "Such an agreement could not be implemented and would not lead to a lasting and sustainable solution." | "The Serbian government cannot accept the proposed principles ... because they do not guarantee full security, survival and protection of human rights for the Serbs in Kosovo," said Ivica Dacic, the prime minister. "Such an agreement could not be implemented and would not lead to a lasting and sustainable solution." |
| Catherine Ashton, the EU's top diplomat, said after the eighth round of talks between Serbian and Kosovan officials last week in Brussels that she wanted a response from both sides and that the bloc's mediation was over. Despite warnings that there will be no more EU-sponsored negotiations under Ashton's mediation, Vucic and the government called for more talks with rival ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. | Catherine Ashton, the EU's top diplomat, said after the eighth round of talks between Serbian and Kosovan officials last week in Brussels that she wanted a response from both sides and that the bloc's mediation was over. Despite warnings that there will be no more EU-sponsored negotiations under Ashton's mediation, Vucic and the government called for more talks with rival ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. |
| "If there is a negative answer [from the EU], that would be bad news for Serbia, Kosovo and the EU," Vucic said. "If that happens, we would have to start thinking of what to do next. | "If there is a negative answer [from the EU], that would be bad news for Serbia, Kosovo and the EU," Vucic said. "If that happens, we would have to start thinking of what to do next. |
| "We don't want Serbia isolated from the world, but we have to protect our interests," he said. "It is highly important that we reach an agreement." | "We don't want Serbia isolated from the world, but we have to protect our interests," he said. "It is highly important that we reach an agreement." |
| The rejection of the proposal could be a severe blow for Serbia's EU membership aspirations – including millions of dollars of promised accession funds – and would lead to more tensions in the Balkans, which is still reeling from the bloody wars of the 1990s when Serbia tried to prevent the breakup of the former Yugoslav federation by force. | The rejection of the proposal could be a severe blow for Serbia's EU membership aspirations – including millions of dollars of promised accession funds – and would lead to more tensions in the Balkans, which is still reeling from the bloody wars of the 1990s when Serbia tried to prevent the breakup of the former Yugoslav federation by force. |
| While some 90 countries – including the United States and most EU nations – have recognised Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, it has been rejected by Serbia and its Slavic ally Russia. | While some 90 countries – including the United States and most EU nations – have recognised Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, it has been rejected by Serbia and its Slavic ally Russia. |
| The most contentious issue in the talks was the status of northern Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs dominate and refuse to accept the authority of the ethnic Albanian-controlled government in Pristina. Germany has made giving up control of Kosovo's north the key condition for the start of Serbia's EU accession negotiations. | The most contentious issue in the talks was the status of northern Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs dominate and refuse to accept the authority of the ethnic Albanian-controlled government in Pristina. Germany has made giving up control of Kosovo's north the key condition for the start of Serbia's EU accession negotiations. |
| The stumbling block in the talks was a Serbian demand that ethnic Serbs, who represent about 10% of Kosovo's 2 million people, have their own judiciary and police force. But Kosovo officials have rejected that, saying it would be tantamount to a division of Kosovo into two separate entities. | The stumbling block in the talks was a Serbian demand that ethnic Serbs, who represent about 10% of Kosovo's 2 million people, have their own judiciary and police force. But Kosovo officials have rejected that, saying it would be tantamount to a division of Kosovo into two separate entities. |
| In Serbia, there are increasing calls among nationalists that the country should turn to its ally Russia instead of becoming an EU member. There also are suggestions from the extremists that Serbia should use force to reoccupy Kosovo, which it surrendered after a three-month Nato bombing campaign that pushed out its troops in 1999. | In Serbia, there are increasing calls among nationalists that the country should turn to its ally Russia instead of becoming an EU member. There also are suggestions from the extremists that Serbia should use force to reoccupy Kosovo, which it surrendered after a three-month Nato bombing campaign that pushed out its troops in 1999. |
| Vucic, a former ultranationalist turned moderate, said a military solution is out of the question. "I'm hearing some 'heroes' who were never brave who are giving us lessons on how we should stroll into Pristina," he said. "They should not tell us what our decisions should be." | Vucic, a former ultranationalist turned moderate, said a military solution is out of the question. "I'm hearing some 'heroes' who were never brave who are giving us lessons on how we should stroll into Pristina," he said. "They should not tell us what our decisions should be." |
| Several hundred far-right supporters demonstrated in front of the government headquarters in Belgrade during the cabinet session, demanding that no deal is signed with the EU and ethnic Albanians. | Several hundred far-right supporters demonstrated in front of the government headquarters in Belgrade during the cabinet session, demanding that no deal is signed with the EU and ethnic Albanians. |
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