CCTV

Headline News

World

Serbia rejects Kosovo independence

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 12-11-2007 08:45

Serbia's top official for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic, speaks during a press conference in Kosovska Mitrovica, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis)

Ethnic Albanian leaders from Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia before May.

The announcement came after a December the 10th deadline for a negotiated deal on the fate of the province passed without result.

The Serbian province of Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since 1999.

Serbia wants to keep Kosovo's sovereignty, but Kosovo Albanians, which make up more than 90 percent of the population, are calling for full independence.

Under international mediation, Serbian representatives and Kosovo Albanians started talks in August on steps that would lead to a declaration of independence and subsequent international recognition.

Envoys from the US, the EU and Russia had been given a Monday deadline to complete a negotiations report. But EU foreign ministers failed to reach agreement during Monday's meeting in Brussels.

Kosovo Albanians warned they would unilaterally declare independence if no agreement was reached before the deadline.

Serbia's foreign minister Vuk Jeremic, right, and minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic are seen at a press conference after their final talks on Kosovo in Belgrade Monday, Dec. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Srdjan Ilic)

A spokesman for the Kosovo negotiating team says Kosovo Albanians will declare independence sooner than May.

But Kosovo negotiators have promised not to break away from Serbia without the approval of the EU and US.

However, Serbia has strongly rejected Kosovo Albanians' unilateral announcement.

Vuk Jeremic, Serbian Foreign Minister, said, "Well any kind of declaration of independence is not going to be accepted by Serbia, and as long as this move is not accepted by Serbia we're going to have a Any resolution, any DI or non-DI or whatever is not accepted by both sides is not going to be conducive to the cementing of peace and stability in the region."

Serbia has warned of possible counter measures if Kosovo Albanians declare independence.

 

Editor:Zhang Pengfei