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EU hopes for progress on Kosovo | |
(about 18 hours later) | |
The European Union has expressed cautious optimism that there may be progress towards a resolution of the dispute over the future of Kosovo. | |
Foreign policy chief Javier Solana said at a meeting in Brussels the opposing sides were becoming more engaged. | |
Ethnic Albanians, backed by the US and most of the EU, want full independence but Serbia, supported by Russia, is offering broad autonomy. | Ethnic Albanians, backed by the US and most of the EU, want full independence but Serbia, supported by Russia, is offering broad autonomy. |
The UN has set a deadline of 10 December for resolution. | The UN has set a deadline of 10 December for resolution. |
'Hampered' | |
Mr Solana said: "I'm happy that this is becoming a more engaging process... I have seen some smiles that for some time I have not seen." | |
However the Serbian and Kosovo Albanian delegations showed little sign of budging from their positions on Sunday. | |
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said the deadline was hampering the talks. | |
"It disincentivises the sides to actually engage in best faith and arrive at a compromise," he said. | |
Kosovo President Fatmir Sedju said Serbia had "once again presented their view of substantial autonomy". | |
"With these plans Serbia would retain sovereignty over Kosovo. Of course Kosovo rejected this entirely." | |
The EU, US and Russia will next meet the two sides in Vienna on 22 October "followed by an intensive schedule of face-to-face meetings in the following weeks," the troika said. | |
The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign forced out Serbian troops in 1999. | The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign forced out Serbian troops in 1999. |
Sunday's talks were set after a previous round on the sidelines of last month's UN General Assembly in New York failed to end the impasse. | Sunday's talks were set after a previous round on the sidelines of last month's UN General Assembly in New York failed to end the impasse. |
Kosovo Albanians have expressed frustration at the slow progress and have threatened to unilaterally declare independence - a move certain to inflame Serbian opinion. | Kosovo Albanians have expressed frustration at the slow progress and have threatened to unilaterally declare independence - a move certain to inflame Serbian opinion. |
The EU plans to send nearly 2,000 police and judicial officers to Kosovo and has suggested this will happen regardless of a declaration of independence. | The EU plans to send nearly 2,000 police and judicial officers to Kosovo and has suggested this will happen regardless of a declaration of independence. |
Coinciding with the talks is a huge Nato exercise in Croatia - the first time a non-Nato member has hosted such an event. | Coinciding with the talks is a huge Nato exercise in Croatia - the first time a non-Nato member has hosted such an event. |
The Rapid Reaction Force has been rehearsing a crisis situation in the Balkans. | The Rapid Reaction Force has been rehearsing a crisis situation in the Balkans. |
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