RUSSIA and the West were last night heading for a major split on the issue of Kosovo, after the United Nations Security Council failed to bridge the yawning gap between the two sides.
The European Union, with Britain one of the most prominent voices, has joined with the United States in favouring independence for the Serbian province, where 90 per cent of the population are ethnic Albanian.
But after a heated meeting behind cl
osed doors, Vitaly Churkin, the Russian envoy, declared the move would be illegal, and he would block any attempt to get UN recognition for an independent Kosovo. "The West would be in contravention of international law," he said.
He was echoed by Vojislav Kostunica, the Serbian president: "Serbia will proclaim any decision null and void."
But in a joint statement, the EU and the US said the time for negotiations was over, after eight fruitless years.
The EU agreed last week to send a mission to Kosovo to replace that of the UN, and to create support for possible independence. Russia said it will use its veto to deny such a mission the blessing of the UN, but the EU says the mission will go ahead with or without UN approval.
Sir John Sawers, the British ambassador to the UN, said: "We regret that the Council is unable to reach agreement. But we remain convinced that the time has come, indeed is overdue, to settle Kosovo's future."
At stake is the fragile international consensus which has held Kosovo in suspended animation since the end of the war in June 1999. Since then, waves of talks have been held to settle the status of the province, with the Albanian majority demanding independence and Serbia refusing to consider it.
The positions yesterday remained the same. "All possibilities for agreement have been exhausted," said Kosovo's president Fatmir Sejdiu, following an address to the Security Council. "We will now move on a declaration of independence for Kosovo."
Although Mr Sejdiu would not be drawn on a date for this declaration, diplomats say it is expected to come in mid- January.
At that point, UN officials are braced for trouble. EU foreign ministers, with the exception of Cyprus, have already agreed informally to recognise this declaration.
Russia, and possibly China, will veto any move to have Kosovo recognised by the UN itself, leaving the province's future in legal limbo.
The full article contains 406 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
