| Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica warned the United States and Kosovo Albanians on Saturday that they would be responsible for devastating violence if they “snatch” Kosovo and declare it independent. Serbia is offering wide autonomy for Kosovo. The Albanians, who have been under UN rule for eight years, want full independence. They are to hold direct talks in New York next week, and have until Dec. 10 before a report must go to the UN. Kostunica said he believed a solution could still be found to settle the status of Kosovo on the basis of the United Nations Charter, which upholds Serbian sovereignty over the 90-percent Albanian majority. But “the Albanians, supported especially by their American partners” were simply waiting for the clock to run out on the 120-day period set for last-ditch negotiations before declaring an impasse and doing what they have planned to do all along. Responding to a question on whether Serbia would send in troops if Kosovo declared independence, he said: “Our attention right now is focused on making sure there is no unilateral declaration of independence. And if it happens, to make sure that our ties with our people in the province remain unbroken.” |