<http://www.iht.com/> International Herald Tribune
Serbia warns it will never accept "illegal and rogue" Kosovo before final talks round The Associated Press Sunday, November 25, 2007 BELGRADE, Serbia: Serbia's prime minister said Sunday the country will never recognize an "illegal and rogue" independent Kosovo, while the province's leader vowed to declare independence. The hard-line positions suggest neither side is ready to compromise during a final round of talks on the future of the province. Serb and Albanian delegations are to meet Monday in Baden, Austria, for a three-day attempt at narrowing differences. The negotiations so far have produced no agreement. Mediators from the United States, the EU and Russia are to report to the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by Dec. 10 about the process. In recent meetings, leaders of the ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo have rejected even considering anything short of independence, while Serbia refuses to let go of its separatist region. Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said Serbia will never recognize an independent Kosovo, calling it "an illegal and rogue creation." "Serbia will show that unilateral independence means absolutely nothing," he said. Kosovo's outgoing Prime Minister, Agim Ceku, told reporters the conclusion of the talks would lead to the province's independence, which he said should be declared before the end of the year. "This marks the end to a long and difficult process that will undoubtedly result with Kosovo's independence," Ceku said before leaving for Austria. "Big decisions await us and we need to be ready to make them." "I can guarantee you that nobody can impose upon us anything less than independence," Ceku said. The United States and its allies have backed independence for Kosovo, suggesting they might recognize the region as an independent nation if talks with Serbia fail altogether. Russia, however, has backed Serbia in its efforts to keep Kosovo. Kostunica said "a recognition by America or any other country cannot change anything and turn an illegal act into a normal and regular thing." Kosovo formally is part of Serbia, although Belgrade has had no authority over the region since 1999, when a NATO bombing forced Serbia to end a crackdown against the Kosovo separatists and pull its troops out. The province has been run by the United Nations and NATO since June 1999. President Boris Tadic said Belgrade believes that a compromise is possible, and will again present a proposal for what he termed "essential autonomy" for Kosovo. "We are going there fully convinced that we are right, and we will defend our position very firmly and carefully," he said. ___ Associated Press Writer Nebi Qena in Kosovo contributed to this report. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/25/europe/EU-GEN-Serbia-Kosovo-Talks.php
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