Kosovo Talks Collapse as Deadline Looms

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. (More Kosovo stories.)