This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7101366.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Kosovo warned over independence EU warns Kosovo on independence
(about 11 hours later)
Foreign ministers from several EU countries have urged Kosovo Albanians not to declare unilateral independence following Saturday's elections. EU foreign ministers have urged Kosovo's Albanians not to rush into any unilateral declaration of independence following Saturday's election.
Independence without foreign support could isolate Kosovo, they warned. The UK's Europe minister said any declaration ought to be "co-ordinated with the international community".
A party led by a former Kosovo Albanian rebel is set to win the polls, which were boycotted by the Serb minority. Hashim Thaci, whose party claimed victory in the election, has said a declaration will be made immediately after talks with the Serb minority.
Hashim Thaci's party seeks to declare independence from Serbia after 10 December - the UN deadline for ethnic Albanians and Serbs to reach a deal. Serbia has warned that might lead to more conflict in the Balkans.
Kosovo is formally a part of Serbia but has been run by the United Nations since 1999 when Nato ejected Serbian forces from the province. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told the BBC that Albanian negotiators had no incentive to compromise if the international community promised to honour independence once the UN's negotiating deadline expired on 10 December.
Ethnic Albanians, who make up some 90% of Kosovo's population of two million people, have been pushing for the province's independence. "It renders the whole situation useless," he told Europe Today.
Members of the Serbian minority oppose the move. They heeded a call by Serbia's government to boycott the poll. Kosovo is formally a part of Serbia but has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when Nato ejected Serbian forces from the province.
The 27-member EU is divided on the issue of independence for Kosovo, while the US backs the move. 'International unity'
'Very bad thing' Speaking at a news conference after EU talks on Kosovo, the UK's Europe minister, Jim Murphy, said independence without foreign support could isolate the breakaway province.
"We are trying to convince the Kosovans not to proceed with a declaration of independence without the support of the international community," Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said on Monday ahead of EU talks in Brussels. We need on this issue a soft landing rather than a big bang - the Balkans is a rather fragile place Carl BildtSwedish Foreign Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7100989.stm">December deadline looms
I don't think they (Kosovans) want to be independent from the international community Carl BildtSwedish Foreign Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7100989.stm">December deadline looms "Kosovo should have her independence [but] it shouldn't be an unmanaged, unilateral declaration - it should be one that is co-ordinated with the international community," he said.
He warned that such a move would be "a very bad thing". Mr Murphy said "well above 20" EU member states backed independence for the breakaway province but that they had not "got to 27 yet".
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt urged Mr Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) not to make any hasty moves that could lead to Kosovo being isolated. "In terms of managing this process, it's a much better outcome for everyone involved if there's maximum international unity," he added.
"I don't think they (Kosovans) want to be independent from the international community," Mr Bildt said. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said a "soft landing" rather than a "big bang" was required in order to maintain stability in the region.
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said formal independence for Kosovo would require proper preparations. "The Balkans is a rather fragile place," he told reporters.
At least five European countries, including Greece and Romania, fear independence for Kosovo would encourage separatist trends in the Balkans and elsewhere in Europe. Russia is strongly against it, while the US backs the move.
The EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, has meanwhile warned that formal independence for Kosovo would require proper preparations.
'New century''New century'
Mr Thaci's PDK had won 34% of the vote with more than 90% of ballots counted, independent observers said. Earlier on Monday, independent election observers said Mr Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) had won 34% of the vote with more than 90% of ballots counted.
Hashim Thaci wants to move towards the EU Hashim Thaci jubilantHashim Thaci wants to move towards the EU Hashim Thaci jubilant
They said the rival Democratic League of Kosovo (LKD), which had dominated Kosovo politics in recent years, trailed in second place with 22%.They said the rival Democratic League of Kosovo (LKD), which had dominated Kosovo politics in recent years, trailed in second place with 22%.
That puts Mr Thaci - the former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army - in pole position to be prime minister.
"We will declare independence immediately after 10 December," Mr Thaci told cheering supporters as results were coming in."We will declare independence immediately after 10 December," Mr Thaci told cheering supporters as results were coming in.
If the PDK did in fact win the largest number of seats in the 120-seat parliament, a period of negotiations is likely to take place before a coalition government is formed, the BBC's Nick Hawton reports from the Kosovo capital, Pristina. If the PDK did in fact win the largest number of seats in the 120-seat parliament, a period of negotiations is likely to take place before a coalition government is formed by the former rebel leader, the BBC's Nick Hawton in Pristina says.
But every ethnic Albanian party, our correspondent adds, has the same priority: trying to make Kosovo an independent state in its own right and break away from Serbia.But every ethnic Albanian party, our correspondent adds, has the same priority: trying to make Kosovo an independent state in its own right and break away from Serbia.
According to election officials, the turnout was around 45%, the lowest since 1999. According to election officials, the turnout for the was around 45%, the lowest since 1999.
Serb boycott The Serbian government had called on ethnic Serbs not to vote so as to avoid giving the new government legitimacy.
One hundred seats in the provincial assembly were up for direct election, with the remaining 20 reserved for Serbs and other minorities.
The Serbian government had called on ethnic Serbs not to vote so as to avoid legitimising the new government.
A Kosovo Serb spokesman, Rade Negojevic, said just three out of 46,000 Serbs in northern Kosovo had cast ballots.A Kosovo Serb spokesman, Rade Negojevic, said just three out of 46,000 Serbs in northern Kosovo had cast ballots.
"Two people voted in Leposavic district, one in Zvecan and not a single person in Kosovska Mitrovica," he said.