Kosovo Leader Says U.S., EU Approval Needed For Independence

Kosovar Prime Minister Agim Ceku (file photo) (epa) May 20, 2007 -- Kosovo's prime minister, Agim Ceku, told a French newspaper in an interview appearing today that the UN-administered province will only declare independence in the face of Russian opposition if the United States, the EU, and the UN chief approve.

Ceku made the statement to France's "Journal du Dimanche."


UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari's proposal for Kosovo's internationally supervised independence is opposed by Serbia and its ally Russia, but backed by the United States, the European Union, and Kosovo Albanian leaders.


(AFP)

Final Status For Kosovo

Final Status For Kosovo

Pro-independence graffiti in Prishtina (epa)

FINALLY STATUS? Sabine Freizer, director of the Crisis Group's Europe Program, told an RFE/RL briefing that deep divisions in the UN Security Council make it uncertain what form Kosovo's future status might take.


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RFE/RL's coverage of Kosovo. The website of RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Language Service.