Day 1 of Kosovo talks ends without deal

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-28-2007 09:27

Members of Kosovo's delegation Veton Surroi, Hashim Thaci, Fatmir Sejdiu, Agim Ceku and Kole Berisha (L-R) sit in a meeting room at the beginning of talks on the UN Kosovo plan for the independence of Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province, in Baden. (Herwig Prammer/Reuters)

The first day of last-ditch talks on the future status of Kosovo has ended without an agreement.

Serbia says Kosovo Albanians are obstructing negotiations because they believe the United States and the European Union have already promised their independence.

At the end of the first day of talks in the Austrian resort of Baden, Serbia said the Albanian side is considers independence has already been promised to them leaving them no strong motive to negotiate.

Slobodan Samardzic, Serbian Minister for Kosovo, said, "The Albanian side is not loyal to the process of negotiations, and while waiting for the preordained outcome, they have been either passive or obstructed the discussion about the most important issue -- that is the status of Kosovo."

Kosovo Albanians say they will declare independence from Serbia after a deadline for negotiations expires in two weeks.

Kosovo's Prime Minister Agim Ceku talks to journalists during talks on the UN Kosovo plan for the independence of Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province, in Baden, south of Vienna, November 26, 2007. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer (AUSTRIA)

Agim Ceku, Ethnic Albanian Prime Minister, said, "I think we have done everything, we have turned every stone to reach some kind of agreement. And independence as a necessary step should be declared in partnership with US. and the EU, I hope within this year."

The talks, are due to end on Wednesday morning. They are the sixth round of a fresh, last-chance search for a deal. The talks were launched in August after Russia threatened to veto a Western-backed plan granting Kosovo independence.

Serbia has instructed government ministers to draw up an "Action Plan" in the event of a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kustonica arrives for the last round of Kosovo talks, 26 November 2007 in Baden. (AFP/File/Dieter Nagl)

Editor:Zhang Pengfei