EU rejects Kosovo poll winner's call for independence

Western elation at the election success of moderates in Kosovo was undermined on Monday when European Union foreign ministers clashed with the poll's victor over his pursuit of independence for the province.

At a meeting in Brussels, the ministers welcomed the peaceful and orderly elections in Kosovo and diplomats said they were particularly heartened by indications that a reasonable proportion of Serbs took part. But in a clear sign of difficulties to come, they rejected statements from Ibrahim Rugova, the new Albanian leader, that his main priority would be the pursuit of independence.

Mr Rugova's Democratic League of Kosovo won slightly more than 46 per cent of the vote, giving him a clear mandate to lead the province but denying him the overwhelming margin to rule alone.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo, led by the former rebel leader Hashim Thaci, gained 25.5 per cent of the vote and a coalition representing Kosovo's minority Serbs finished with marginally less than 11 per cent.

Mr Rugova is a moderate who stood out as a figurehead of peaceful opposition to Slobodan Milosevic, the former president, and who has long espoused the goal of independence – supported by the majority of ethnic Albanians. But his call for an independent Kosovo received a dusty response in Brussels.

Louis Michel, the Foreign Minister of Belgium, which holds the EU presidency, said "Our position has not changed. We do not favour independence."

Jaime Gama, the Portu-guese Foreign Minister, said that the UN Security Council resolution on Kosovo, which envisages wide autonomy for the territory but within the Yugoslav federation, should remain the guide to dealing with the province.

He added that any change in the position had to come through a direct dialogue between Belgrade and the province – in other words, "always through dialogue". The issue of the status of Kosovo is highly sensitive in the region because of its implications for other ex-Yugoslav provinces.

Western leaders are nervous about the potential of a move towards independence in Kosovo – fearing it will destabilise neighbouring Macedonia and muddy the debate over the future of Montenegro, a republic within Yugoslavia.

Nevertheless, Western diplomats acknowledge that the final status of Kosovo cannot be delayed indefinitely and Mr Rugova's comments have stoked pressure for the issue to be confronted.

One EU official said: "Clearly, this is an issue that will have to be addressed in the medium term but there is plenty for those newly established institutions to be getting on with: the important thing is that those institutions should work and for everybody to respect them."

One EU foreign minister hinted a rethink on the province was already under way. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the Austrian Foreign Minister, said Mr Rugova "knows very well the international community is against independence" but she added: "We have to sit down and really consider what could be a solution but I am not in favour of independence as such."

Earlier, Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy high representative, urged Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders to adhere to the UN Security Council resolution. "It will take all their energy and creativity to ensure a prosperous and stable development of Kosovo which safeguards the interest of all communities," he said.