THE European Union is set to complete authorisation of a big supervisory mission in Kosovo this week, just before the territory is expected to declare independence from Serbia, diplomats and EU officials said.

Turkish Cypriots in the north of the divided island celebrated independence today, while Greek Cypriots protested in the internationally-recognised south.

THE European Commission plans to set up a mission in northern Cyprus to co-ordinate support for Turkish Cypriots after their exclusion from the EU’s imminent enlargement, a top official said yesterday.