SERBIA:International envoys to Kosovo urged ethnic-Albanian and Serb leaders to prevent violence in the region yesterday, as last-ditch talks on its bid for independence ended in acrimony.
"Regrettably, there has been no agreement with Serbia. Independence is the beginning and the end," said Kosovan president Fatmir Sejdiu after three days of negotiations in the Austrian spa town of Baden ended in all too-familiar deadlock.
"We cannot say the exact time and date" of an independence declaration, Mr Sejdiu said, adding that "it will happen very quickly . . . in co-operation with the international community."
Former separatist rebel Hashim Thaci, who is set to become independent Kosovo's prime minister after winning this month's election, added: "We regret that Serbia did not find a possibility to reach an agreement over Kosovo. The talks for us have ended."
Serbia, backed by Russia, wants talks to continue beyond a December 10th deadline for diplomats from the United States, European Union and Russia to report on their progress to the United Nations. Brussels and Washington, like Kosovo, reject further negotiations.
"We have not reached a compromise solution . . . but for Serbia it doesn't mean the end. We are ready to continue negotiations," said Serb president Boris Tadic.
"A declaration of independence would not only destabilise Serbia but the region, and will introduce a domino effect which could destabilise Europe," he warned.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov called the prospect of a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo "very alarming", while western diplomats urged all sides to remain calm.
"The peace of the region is very much at stake," said chief US envoy Frank Wisner.
"It is a volatile region. We're going into a very difficult time."
Wolfgang Ischinger, the EU's envoy to Kosovo, called for an "urgent" solution to the question of its future status.
"Both sides have made it clear to us that they are committed to avoiding violence," he added.
"This commitment to peace must continue."
While Kosovo's leaders have drawn back slightly from a pledge to declare independence on, or soon after, December 10th, they are unlikely to wait for more than a few months to make their move, with or without a supporting UN resolution.
Serbia is drawing up an "action plan" on Kosovo which officials say could entail severing diplomatic ties with states that recognise its independence, and are disrupting the passage of people, goods and energy into the region.