Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

EU urges Kosovo not to rush towards independence

Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:16pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

By Mark John

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers urged Kosovo on Monday not to rush towards independence after a weekend election.

Former guerrilla Hashim Thaci, who is expected to become prime minister of the majority ethnic Albanian province after Saturday's election, said parliament would declare independence after a Dec. 10 deadline for international mediation efforts.

The United States backs independence for Kosovo, but the EU is divided on the issue. Some EU member states are reluctant to support any such move without the blessing of the United Nations or at least broad international support.

"Kosovo should have her independence (but) it shouldn't be an unmanaged unilateral declaration. It should be one that is coordinated with the international community," British Europe Minister Jim Murphy told reporters, arriving for an EU meeting.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt urged Thaci not to stoke tensions in the ethnically divided province and said any hasty moves could lead to Kosovo being isolated.

"Mr Thaci has to understand there is a difference between being a politician in opposition and a responsible prime minister," said Bildt.

"I don't think they (Kosovars) want to be independent from the international community," he said.

Pristina would continue to need international help for years to come, he said.  Continued...

Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin poses with his G20 colleagues and central bank leaders during the family photo at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland. REUTERS/POOL New
Pledge to support economies

G20 financial leaders pledged to prepare strategies to end emergency support for their economies, but to keep the aid flowing until recovery was assured.  Full Article | Related Story 

Photo
Miss England gives up crown over brawl reports Friday, 6 Nov 2009 

LONDON (Reuters) - Beauty pageant winner Miss England gave up her title on Friday after reports she had been involved in a nightclub brawl with another beauty queen.  Full Article