Serbia vows to block Kosovo

Serbia today vowed to block Kosovo’s attempts to gain diplomatic recognition and membership to international organisations including the United Nations.

“The so-called Kosovo state will never be a member of the United Nations,” Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said hours after the Albanian-dominated Kosovo parliament declared independence from Serbia.

“Serbia will use all diplomatic means at its disposal to block Kosovo’s recognition,” he said in an interview with the national television network.

Jeremic said Serbia will rely on Russia to block Kosovo’s membership to the UN.

Belgrade will block Kosovo’s access to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe. Every member of the two organisations must agree to newcomers.

“As long as Serbia is a member (of the two organisations), the so-called Kosovo state will not be,” he said.

It remains unclear whether the new nation will be able to join financial bodies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Yesterday Serbia’s president and prime minister rejected Kosovo’s independence declaration as invalid, vowing to one day retake the territory.

Belgrade leaders also said Serbia will seek to keep control over the Serb-populated parts of Kosovo – a move that would likely lead to ethnic divisions.