No Independence for Kosovo Yet

I guess they are standing by to stand by:

PRISTINA (Reuters) – Kosovo Albanians said on Monday they would start immediate talks with Western backers about an independence declaration, but Russia said unilateral recognition could trigger a “chain reaction” of problems around the world.

“From today, Kosovo begins consultations with key international partners to coordinate the next steps to a declaration of independence,” Skender Hyseni, spokesman of Kosovo’s negotiating team with Serbia, said in Pristina.

This is headed for a “frozen conflict” like Cyprus, because the two sides are gridlocked at every turn. The issue here is that eventually, a unilateral independence declaration may be forced upon the Kosovo Albanian hardliners. If that happens, it is likely that the land north of Mitrovica will partition and declare itself part of Serbia. That is what will trigger violence on a large scale in the region.

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Will Kosovo Declare Independence?