By Country / Montenegro

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

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)