EU warns Kosovo against 'unilateral action'

SERBIA:The European Union warned Kosovo yesterday not to make a unilateral declaration of independence amid mounting frustration in the province over diplomatic delays to its bid for freedom from Serbia.

The EU's envoy to Kosovo, Stefan Lehne, met the region's president, Fatmir Sejdiu, just hours after Russia rejected a new UN resolution from Washington and EU states which proposed 120 days of talks between Kosovo and Belgrade, after which a plan for "supervised independence" would be implemented if no agreement was reached.

"Unilateral action or other irresponsible behaviour in Kosovo would take away all the goodwill that you have received," Mr Lehne said in the 90 per cent ethnic Albanian region, which has been run by the UN since a bloody Serb crackdown on separatist rebels in 1998 and 1999. "It will not help you overcome the remaining obstacles but build many, many more," he warned.

Kosovo officials have talked of growing tension as their bid for independence becomes entrenched in diplomatic wrangling and horse-trading on other issues between the western powers and Serbia and its main ally, Russia.

"We are in favour of a joint resolution, but we do not agree that Kosovo should remain hostage to those who can block the process and prevent a status solution conforming with the will of the people," Mr Sejdiu said in a clear reference to Moscow.

"A clear [ Security Council] statement on the date of Kosovo's independence is very important for us," he added. "Kosovo and its negotiating team cannot be held in the dilemma of negotiating on other variants and solutions that would lead to indefinite negotiations."

Some news agencies also quoted Mr Sejdiu as saying that there were "other alternatives" to a UN resolution on independence. Many analysts believe Kosovo's leaders would declare sovereignty unilaterally rather than accept more delays.

They also warn that such a move could prompt small Serb enclaves in Kosovo to make their own declaration of independence and swear loyalty to Belgrade, potentially sparking violence and prompting Kosovo Serbs to flee towards Serbia itself.