(24 Jan 2008)
1. Wide shot interior of Council of the European Union, venue for meeting between Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, and Hashim Thaci, Kosovo Prime Minister
2. Close up EU flag hanging in lobby
3. Solana and Thaci walking towards press
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs:
(Q: Did you discuss the date for Kosovo independence?)
"No, we had no discussion of that. Something that we will discuss on another occasion, but we have discussed about many issues which are important for the European Union and important for Kosovo."
5. Cutaway cameraman
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister of Kosovo:
"We discussed many things, for the constitution too, for the symbols too. Kosovo is ready with everything to proclaim independence and it's an issue of days. Thank you very much. All the best."
6. Thaci leaving
7. Cutaway press
STORYLINE:
Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said on Thursday that independence of his breakaway province from Serbia would be declared in a matter of days.
"Kosovo is ready with everything to proclaim independence," Thaci told reporters in Brussels, after meeting EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana at the Council of the European Union.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders had been expected to declare independence in February or March.
Serbia strongly opposes independence for the province, and the issue has caused friction between the West and Serbian ally Russia - a veto-wielding permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
Solana meanwhile said the two had not discussed the issue of Kosovo's independence, but would "on another occasion."
He added that they had discussed "many issues which are important for the European Union and important for Kosovo," without going into further detail.
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