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Serbia recalls ambassador from US | Serbia recalls ambassador from US |
(30 minutes later) | |
Serbia has recalled its ambassador to Washington in protest at US recognition of Kosovo independence and threatened to withdraw other envoys. | Serbia has recalled its ambassador to Washington in protest at US recognition of Kosovo independence and threatened to withdraw other envoys. |
Its Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, told parliament in Belgrade that America had "violated international law for its own interests". | Its Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, told parliament in Belgrade that America had "violated international law for its own interests". |
France, the UK, Germany and Italy have also pledged their support for the new state declared on Sunday. | France, the UK, Germany and Italy have also pledged their support for the new state declared on Sunday. |
In New York, the UN Security Council is beginning a meeting on the move. | In New York, the UN Security Council is beginning a meeting on the move. |
See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown | See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown |
Serbian President Boris Tadic is to ask it to annul the independence declaration, and Belgrade is counting on Russia to veto Kosovo joining the UN as a new nation. | Serbian President Boris Tadic is to ask it to annul the independence declaration, and Belgrade is counting on Russia to veto Kosovo joining the UN as a new nation. |
The leading European states which endorsed independence did so after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels in which it was agreed that Kosovo should not set a precedent for other states. | The leading European states which endorsed independence did so after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels in which it was agreed that Kosovo should not set a precedent for other states. |
Spain and several other member-states have withheld recognition because of concerns about international law and separatism. | Spain and several other member-states have withheld recognition because of concerns about international law and separatism. |
'First measure' | 'First measure' |
Mr Kostunica said the recall of Serbia's ambassador to the US was the "first urgent measure of the government which will be implemented in all countries that recognise unilateral independence". | Mr Kostunica said the recall of Serbia's ambassador to the US was the "first urgent measure of the government which will be implemented in all countries that recognise unilateral independence". |
KOSOVO PROFILE Population about two millionMajority ethnic Albanian; 10% SerbUnder UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 19992,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independenceNato to stay to provide security Full text: Kosovo declarationIn pictures: Celebrations | KOSOVO PROFILE Population about two millionMajority ethnic Albanian; 10% SerbUnder UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 19992,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independenceNato to stay to provide security Full text: Kosovo declarationIn pictures: Celebrations |
Speaking to Serbian TV from New York, President Tadic said he intended to "demand from [UN Secretary General] Ban Ki-moon the immediate annulment of the independence proclamation by the non-existent state in Kosovo". | Speaking to Serbian TV from New York, President Tadic said he intended to "demand from [UN Secretary General] Ban Ki-moon the immediate annulment of the independence proclamation by the non-existent state in Kosovo". |
Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, told the BBC that Kosovo had little to gain from declaring independence. | |
"There is no way they will get into the United Nations or the OSCE or the Council of Europe," he said. | |
"So what will they be getting, changing nameplates at the offices of Western countries in Pristina, calling them embassies?" | |
Serbia's interior ministry has filed criminal charges against Kosovo Albanian leaders instrumental in proclaiming independence, accusing them of proclaiming a "false state" on Serbian territory. | Serbia's interior ministry has filed criminal charges against Kosovo Albanian leaders instrumental in proclaiming independence, accusing them of proclaiming a "false state" on Serbian territory. |
In Belgrade, about 10,000 students marched in protest at the independence declaration, and Serb enclaves inside Kosovo also saw anti-independence rallies. | In Belgrade, about 10,000 students marched in protest at the independence declaration, and Serb enclaves inside Kosovo also saw anti-independence rallies. |
Serbian security forces were driven out of Kosovo in 1999 after a Nato bombing campaign aimed at halting the violent repression of ethnic Albanian separatists. | Serbian security forces were driven out of Kosovo in 1999 after a Nato bombing campaign aimed at halting the violent repression of ethnic Albanian separatists. |
The province has been under UN administration and Nato protection since then. | The province has been under UN administration and Nato protection since then. |
Pledges of support | Pledges of support |
On Monday, Washington formally recognised Kosovo as a "sovereign and independent state". | On Monday, Washington formally recognised Kosovo as a "sovereign and independent state". |
STANCE ON RECOGNITION For: Germany, Italy, France, UK, Austria, US, Turkey, Albania, Afghanistan Against: Russia, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus | STANCE ON RECOGNITION For: Germany, Italy, France, UK, Austria, US, Turkey, Albania, Afghanistan Against: Russia, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus |
In Brussels, EU foreign ministers adopted a compromise proposal from Spain, one of several countries which argue that Kosovo's independence is a breach of international law and will boost separatists everywhere. | |
The bloc set aside differences by stressing Kosovo's declaration was not a precedent for separatists elsewhere and pledging that the whole Balkan region would eventually join the bloc. | |
Unanimous recognition of Kosovo was never at stake at the meeting because the EU has no legal right to recognise new states, BBC European affairs correspondent Oana Lungescu notes. | |
The question was whether, despite their differences on recognition, Europeans could unite on how to bring stability in their backyard, after almost two decades of seemingly endless Balkan crises. | |
HAVE YOUR SAYThis is an ugly victory for demographic warfareSEQ, LondonSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThis is an ugly victory for demographic warfareSEQ, LondonSend us your comments |
It took hours of tortuous negotiations but the EU managed to pass the unity test, our correspondent says. | |
Kosovo, the ministers agreed, was a unique case and did not call into question international legal principles, such as territorial integrity. | |
The bloc's statement said the EU was ready to play a leading role in the Balkans, with a 2,000-strong police and justice mission headed to Kosovo and new measures to promote economic and political development in the region, including a donors' conference by June. | |
The EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana said there was a total commitment to bring all the Balkan countries into the EU. | |
But Kosovo will not be able to get very close until it is recognised by all 27 members, and that may take a long time, our correspondent adds. | |
Among other countries to recognise Kosovo was Turkey. | Among other countries to recognise Kosovo was Turkey. |
Correspondents say this has symbolic significance because for centuries the Ottoman Turks ruled the Balkans, including modern-day Serbia and Kosovo. | Correspondents say this has symbolic significance because for centuries the Ottoman Turks ruled the Balkans, including modern-day Serbia and Kosovo. |
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