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Kosovo Talks Collapse as Deadline Looms

Province will declare independence from Serbia on Dec. 10

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 28, 2007 9:12 AM CST

(Newser) – The last, desperate round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo ended in a stalemate in Austria today, reports the BBC. With no compromise likely before the UN-imposed deadline of Dec. 10, Kosovo looks set to declare its independence unilaterally. The US and EU have signaled that they will support the breakaway province, but today the Serbian president promised to "annul" any declaration of an independent Kosovo.

Although a part of Serbia, Kosovo has been run as a UN-administered protectorate since the end of war in 1999. In an interview with the Telegraph, Serbian President Boris Tadic warned of a destabilized Balkan region and called US support for Kosovo independence "simplistic." Tadic is a moderate, pro-EU politician; the fear is that a Kosovo breakaway might embolden extreme nationalist Serbian parties.

Kosovo's Albanian Democratic Party Leader Hashim Thaci talks to journalists during a break from talks on the future of Kosovo, being held in Baden near Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. Talks... (Associated Press)

Kosovo's Prime Minister Agim Ceku talks to journalists prior to the last round of talks on the future of Kosovo in Baden near Vienna on Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. Serbia will not give up "an inch" of Kosovo,... (Associated Press)

An invalid beggar stands by graffiti reading "We won't give up on Kosovo", in Serbian Cyrillic letters, in Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. Serbia will not give up "an inch" of Kosovo, Prime Minister... (Associated Press)

An elderly woman and a boy walk past a billboard showing prominent Serbian public figures which reads, "All together, Kosovo is Serbia", Belgrade, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. Talks on the future status of... (Associated Press)

Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, left, and President Boris Tadic, wait for the start of the next round of talks on the future of Kosovo in Baden near Vienna on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. (AP... (Associated Press)

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Kosovo Talks Collapse as Deadline Looms

Province will declare independence from Serbia on Dec. 10

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Kosovo Talks Collapse as Deadline Looms

Province will declare independence from Serbia on Dec. 10

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Serbia • Kosovo • Boris Tadic

MOST POPULAR STORIES

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More Newser Stories

Serbia Set for Snap Elections After Kosovo Spurs Collapse

Most important vote in decade called for May

Serbia's PM Dissolves Government

Kostunica cites infighting over Kosovo, calls for new elections

Serbia Calls Home US Envoy

PM vows to pull diplomats from all nations that support Kosovo independence

Serbian Government May Collapse Over Kosovo

Crisis looms only days after presidential vote

Pro-West Tadic Wins in Serbia

Loser Nikolic warns EU not to blackmail Serbia over integration

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