Kosovo's independence unacceptable for Serbs

In an interview with Andrej Ivanji, Vladeta Jankovic, foreign policy advisor to the prime minister of Serbia, explains that Belgrade will never agree to UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plans for Kosovo's independence. He says that Serbs are prepared to grant Kosovo a high degree of autonomy but that as the "seed from which the Serb nation grew" it must continue to be part of Serbia. "For years Europe and the US have been promising Serbia prosperity, EU membership and other privileges if it gives up part of its territory. I fear there has been a profound misunderstanding here. The West believes that everything is negotiable. Only recently has it come to realise that Serbia will not trade in Kosovo - not for the EU or NATO membership, or even for billions in loans we can't pay back."

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