By DPA
Pristina : Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku Friday reiterated the Kosovo Albanians’ intention to proclaim independence for the breakaway Serbian province before the end of the year.
“We are not going to accept any further negotiations, delays or postponements of status resolution,” Ceku said.
The deadline for the Kosovo Albanian leaders is December 10, which marks the end of the 120-day period given for last-ditch negotiations on Kosovo’s status between Belgrade and Pristina.
Ceku said parliament would declare independence, and offered assurances that its independence would be immediately recognized by several powerful countries, most notably the United States.
Ongoing status talks between Belgrade and Pristina are being mediated by a so-called “troika” of international envoys representing the US, Russia and the European Union.
While the US supports the Albanian majority’s push for independence, Russia has taken sides with Belgrade, which demands compromise and refuses to give up its sovereignty over the province.
The EU, however, is split on the issue, though its leading countries showed support for an earlier UN plan involving internationally-supervised independence.
Kosovo has been a virtual UN protectorate since a 1999 NATO bombing campaign ended a conflict between the Serbian military and Albanian rebels, driving Serbia’s forces out of the province.
A UN administration and a NATO-led peacekeeping force of up to 16,000 soldiers have been in the province since.