USA: Serbian President Boris Tadic threatens that independence for Kosovo would spark worldwide separatist movements

Serbian President Boris Tadic threatens that independence for Kosovo would spark worldwide separatist movements. Serbian and Albanian representatives spar over Albanian President Sali Berisha's remarks about independence for Kosovo. Serbian President Boris Tadic reiterated his country's stance that an independent Kosovo would be unacceptable to Serbia and warned that it could cause global instability at the U.N.'s General Assembly meeting on Thursday (September 27). "If there would be one-sided recognition of Kosovo, the international legal order would never be the same," said Tadic, "Many separatist movements the world over would see it as a precedent." Tadic said that Kosovo Albanian leaders are threatening to declare independence unilaterally on Dec. 11 if talks fail and he warned the world against recognition. The statement from Tadic came on the same day that foreign ministers from six major powers called on Serbia and Kosovo Albanians to seek common ground in fresh negotiations on the future of the U.N.- administered Serbian province. "I think the key themes that emerged from the discussion were first that the 120 day process that concludes on December 10th is one that all members of the Contact Group are committed to and want to see taken forward in a constructive spirit by the parties," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband. "Secondly, and vitally there are responsibilities on both sides as this process continues." At the end of the General Assembly meeting, Serbia made a request to address statements made on Thursday (September 27) by Albanian President Sali Berisha indicating that Albania encourages full independence for Kosovo. "By advocating the independence of Kosovo, a province of the Republic of Serbia, the Prime Minister of Albania is openly calling for the violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a member of the United Nations," said a representative of Serbia. The majority of Kosovars are ethnically Albanian and there are strong ties between Kosovo and Albania. Albania responded by saying it fully supported diplomatic talks but that it also subscribes "to the view that at the end of the period the inalienable right of the Kosovar people for self-determination will serve not only to build the last sovereign state out of the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia but also to build bridges," said a representative of Albania. Serbian and Kosovo Albanian officials are to hold talks in New York on Friday (September 28) to try to break a deadlock over the demand of Kosovo's Albanian majority for independence.

ITN Source | September 28, 2007

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