SERBIA & MONTENEGRO: Leaders of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority insisted yesterday on independence from Serbia, a day after Belgrade vowed never to relinquish its restive southern province.
The conflicting views were intended for Martti Ahtisaari, the Finnish statesmen appointed by the United Nations to mediate between the two sides in long-awaited talks on the final status of Kosovo, which began this week.
"Our delegation presented Mr Ahtisaari with a document on our plans for independence," said Kosovo's president Ibrahim Rugova, playing down international fears that tense negotiations and their outcome could unsettle the Balkans.
"I insist on the direct recognition of Kosovo's independence. That will calm down the region."
The UN took control of Kosovo in 1999, when Nato bombing drove out Serb forces after a two-year campaign with Albanian guerrillas, in which some 10,000 civilians were killed.
Only about 100,000 Serbs remain in Kosovo, living in fear of the kind of mob violence that killed 19 people, injured hundreds and left dozens of Serb Orthodox churches in flames in 2004.
Mr Ahtisaari was also due to meet Orthodox church elders in Kosovo, but Serb political leaders had already made clear their opposition to the region's independence.
"Kosovo is part of Serbia, and not only part of its history but also part of its present and future," said Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica, denouncing the province's Albanian leaders for driving Serbs and other minority communities from their homes.
"An independent Kosovo for Albanian secessionists means a mono-ethnic and solely Albanian state . . . [ and that] violence, violation of human rights, ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide pay," he said.
Diplomats say western powers will likely override Serbian opposition and push for a form of independence under EU supervision for Kosovo - with special provision for Serbs and their centuries-old religious sites - and want a solution in place by late 2006.
In Washington, meanwhile, the leaders of Bosnia's Serb, Muslim and Croat communities agreed yesterday to overhaul their tri-partite presidency and constitution with the aim of preparing the country for eventual EU membership.
The announcement came amid ceremonies marking 10 years since the Dayton accords pacified Bosnia.