Two women walk near a traffic sign showing directions for Serbia's capital Belgrade and Kosovo's capital Pristina at the entrance of the ethnically divided northern town of Mitrovica, December 9, 2007.
Photo: Reuters
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Kosovo’s Independence to Set Off Chain Reaction
The unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo may set off the chain reaction throughout and outside the Balkans, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov forecasted.
"I want to stress that UDI of Kosovo and recognition of such independence will not remain without consequences," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced as quoted by Reuters. "It will create a chain reaction throughout the Balkans and other areas of the world," Lavrov said without specifying what regions would follow Kosovo.
The analysts warn that the Kosovo precedent may set into motion separatists in Spain, Belgium and Britain.
It became finally clear December 7 that the troika of international intermediaries (Russia, the U.S. and EU) proved unable to agree on the Kosovo status during the negotiations of Belgrade and Pristine that lasted for a year and a half and were held in Vienna, Brussels and London. The UN Security Council will focus on troika’s report December 19, 2007.
Russia presses for further negotiations despite the abortive last round. Serbia is also for continuation, offering its own territory for the talks. But Washington thinks different. The U.S. standing is that recognizing Kosovo’s independence is the only solution for reaching stability in the Balkans.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
