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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Kosovo's PM in independence nod | Kosovo's PM in independence nod |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has given the clearest indication yet that the province will declare independence from Serbia on Sunday. | Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has given the clearest indication yet that the province will declare independence from Serbia on Sunday. |
| Mr Thaci said Sunday would be another day of calm during which institutions would be engaged in "implementing the will of the citizens of Kosovo". | Mr Thaci said Sunday would be another day of calm during which institutions would be engaged in "implementing the will of the citizens of Kosovo". |
| Nothing Belgrade could do would have an impact on developments in Kosovo, he said without confirming the move. | Nothing Belgrade could do would have an impact on developments in Kosovo, he said without confirming the move. |
| Hours earlier, the EU approved sending a police and justice mission to Kosovo. | Hours earlier, the EU approved sending a police and justice mission to Kosovo. |
| The 2,000-strong mission will begin deploying to the region from next week. | The 2,000-strong mission will begin deploying to the region from next week. |
| See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown | See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown |
| It will be headed by retired French Lt Gen Yves de Kermabon, who was commander of the Nato mission in Kosovo in 2004-2005. | |
| Veteran Dutch diplomat Pieter Feith has been appointed the EU special representative in Kosovo. | |
| The US and most EU states are preparing to recognise Kosovo quickly, but Serbia and Russia strongly oppose the move. | |
| The EU waited diplomatically until Serbia's pro-Western President Boris Tadic was sworn into office on Friday before giving the final green light for the deployment of the mission, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels. | The EU waited diplomatically until Serbia's pro-Western President Boris Tadic was sworn into office on Friday before giving the final green light for the deployment of the mission, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels. |
| The recognition of independence for Kosovo raises serious questions of international law as well as sensitive diplomatic difficulties Legal furore over recognition The decision was formalised by a so-called "silent procedure", under which members of the 27-nation bloc had until midnight on Friday to voice objections. | The recognition of independence for Kosovo raises serious questions of international law as well as sensitive diplomatic difficulties Legal furore over recognition The decision was formalised by a so-called "silent procedure", under which members of the 27-nation bloc had until midnight on Friday to voice objections. |
| The 2,000 EU police and customs officers, judges and prosecutors are tasked with helping to prevent human rights abuses and ensure that Kosovo's fragile institutions are free from political interference. | The 2,000 EU police and customs officers, judges and prosecutors are tasked with helping to prevent human rights abuses and ensure that Kosovo's fragile institutions are free from political interference. |
| Crucially, the mission will be able to intervene in sensitive areas such as fighting corruption and organised crime and catching war crime suspects. | Crucially, the mission will be able to intervene in sensitive areas such as fighting corruption and organised crime and catching war crime suspects. |
| While Germany and Italy are the biggest contributors, all EU members except for tiny Malta will take part, as well as non-EU countries like the United States, Turkey and Croatia. | While Germany and Italy are the biggest contributors, all EU members except for tiny Malta will take part, as well as non-EU countries like the United States, Turkey and Croatia. |
| Our correspondent says it is a clear signal to Serbia and Russia, which fiercely oppose Kosovo's independence and insist the presence of the EU there will be illegal. | Our correspondent says it is a clear signal to Serbia and Russia, which fiercely oppose Kosovo's independence and insist the presence of the EU there will be illegal. |
| Limitations | Limitations |
| Serbia has threatened to use diplomatic and economic measures against Kosovo, though it has ruled out using force. | Serbia has threatened to use diplomatic and economic measures against Kosovo, though it has ruled out using force. |
| Thaci is a former guerrilla leader | Thaci is a former guerrilla leader |
| The EU mission, known as EULEX, is to be deployed over four months, and is expected to take over from the United Nations by early June. | The EU mission, known as EULEX, is to be deployed over four months, and is expected to take over from the United Nations by early June. |
| The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign in 1999 drove out Serb forces. | The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign in 1999 drove out Serb forces. |
| The US and a number of EU countries, including the UK, are expected to recognise Kosovo quickly. | The US and a number of EU countries, including the UK, are expected to recognise Kosovo quickly. |
| A UN plan on independence includes limitations on independence. | A UN plan on independence includes limitations on independence. |
| These include supervision by an international presence; limited armed forces; strong provisions for Serb minority protection; commitment to multi-ethnic democracy; and neither Kosovo nor any part of it will be allowed to join another country. | These include supervision by an international presence; limited armed forces; strong provisions for Serb minority protection; commitment to multi-ethnic democracy; and neither Kosovo nor any part of it will be allowed to join another country. |
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