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| 'Early independence' for Kosovo | 'Early independence' for Kosovo |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia "much earlier" than the expected month of May, a spokesman says. | Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia "much earlier" than the expected month of May, a spokesman 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 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. |
| Kosovo is still a province of Serbia, but ethnic-Albanian leaders there have threatened to declare independence after Monday's deadline passes. | Kosovo is still a province of Serbia, but ethnic-Albanian leaders there have threatened to declare independence after Monday's deadline passes. |
| EU diplomats say they are close to reaching a unified position on Kosovo. | EU diplomats say they are close to reaching a unified position on Kosovo. |
| Foreign ministers from the bloc are meeting in Brussels ahead of a leaders' summit on Friday. | Foreign ministers from the bloc are meeting in Brussels ahead of a leaders' summit on Friday. |
| Map showing distribution of Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo | |
| EU member states have been divided over whether to recognise a Kosovan declaration of independence, which had been widely expected in May. | EU member states have been divided over whether to recognise a Kosovan declaration of independence, which had been widely expected in May. |
| Kosovan government spokesman Skender Hyseni said a declaration of independence was "not an issue of if, but when". | Kosovan government spokesman Skender Hyseni said a declaration of independence was "not an issue of if, but when". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The day Nato and UN leave the region, there will be war all over Paul, Netherlands Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The day Nato and UN leave the region, there will be war all over Paul, Netherlands Send us your comments |
| "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," Mr Hyseni said. |
| Russia, a strong backer of Serbia, has warned against a unilateral declaration of independence. | Russia, a strong backer of Serbia, has warned against a unilateral 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". | 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". |
| But Kosovo's ethnic-Albanian leaders have support from many European countries and the United States in their push for independence from Serbia. | But Kosovo's ethnic-Albanian leaders have support from many European countries and the United States in their push for independence from Serbia. |
| EU deliberations | 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 - and that only Cyprus still wanted a UN Security Council resolution before accepting a declaration of independence, Reuters news agency reported. | Ahead of Monday's EU meeting in Brussels, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said there was nearly consensus among EU members over Kosovo - and that only Cyprus still wanted a UN Security Council resolution before accepting a declaration of independence, Reuters news agency reported. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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". | 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. | Nato - fearing a violent Serbian reaction - has said it will keep 16,000 troops in Kosovo to deter any clashes. |
| Ethnic-Albanian students are due to march from Pristina University to Kosovo's parliament in a show of support for independence. | Ethnic-Albanian students are due to march from Pristina University to Kosovo's parliament in a show of support for independence. |
| Discrimination fears | Discrimination fears |
| The UN's top administrator in Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, has put forward a plan offering Kosovo "supervised independence". | The UN's top administrator in Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, has put forward a plan offering Kosovo "supervised independence". |
| Kosovo's Albanian leaders want nothing less than independence | Kosovo's Albanian leaders want nothing less than independence |
| 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. | 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. |
| But Serbia has rejected the plan, insisting that Kosovo must remain an integral part of Serbia. | But Serbia has rejected the plan, 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. |
| 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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