(13 Feb 2008) SHOTLIST
1.Kosovan Prime Minster Hashim Thaci entering news conference with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Lieutenant General Xavier de Marhac and top United Nations (UN) official Joackim Rucker
2. Cutaway of NATO logo
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joackim Rucker, top UN official:
''I mean obviously we are preparing for eventualities and parallel security structures are illegal in Kosovo and that is of course a red line. We've said that many times and we've confirmed that.''
4. Cutaway of cameraman
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hashim Thaci, Kosovan Prime Minster:
"A process of independence of Kosovo will be a process of peace, stability, cooperation and for every citizen of Kosovo, Kosovo is the homeland of every citizen of Kosovo. Everything we will do, we will do with our partners, (the United Nations Mission in Kosovo) UNMIK and KFOR (NATO's Kosovo Force.) And out capacity we will try to, to improve, to seal the people in their territory of Kosovo not just in Pristina but in the North of Mitrovica too. And in every corner of Kosovo."
6. Pan from cameras to news conference
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lieutenant General Xavier de Marhac, NATO's chief commander in Kosovo:
''You know that KFOR is committed to maintain a safe and secure environment. I don't think that anybody will complain about that. And we are just doing our business in the regular way and we will do it like this in the coming days.''
8. Cutaway of cameras
9. Thaci shaking hands with Rucker and leaving
STORYLINE
A few days before Kosovo is expected to proclaim independence, United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Kosovo leaders once again stated on Wednesday the transition will go smoothly and that the process of independence will be a process of peace stability and cooperation.
Serbia's government is scheduled to meet on Thursday to pass in advance the measures against Kosovan independence.
Those are believed to include a set of retaliatory moves against any states that recognise the new nation.
Government officials have also said that Serbia will seek to keep control over the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo, a move that could lead to tensions and a de facto division along ethnic lines.
However, at a joint press conference in Pristina on Wednesday, Joackim Rucker, the top UN official, who was joined by Hashim Thaci, Kosovan Prime Minster, and Lieutenant General Xavier de Marhac, NATO's chief commander in Kosovo said they were prepared for any retaliatory moves.
"We are preparing for eventualities, and parallel security structures are illegal in Kosovo, and that is of course a red line. We've said that many times and we've confirmed that," said Rucker.
Lieutenant General Xavier de Marhac, NATO's chief commander in Kosovo added that the NATO force in Kosovo was also prepared to back up any Kosovan government.
''You know that KFOR is committed to maintain a safe and secure environment," he said.
"I don't think that anybody can complain about that. And we are just doing our business in the regular way and we will do it like this in the coming days,'' he added.
Meanwhile Serbia urged the Kosovo Serbs to stay put after the province's ethnic Albanians declare independence, pledging that Belgrade will never recognise Kosovo's statehood.
Kosovo's predominantly ethnic Albanian leadership is expected to proclaim independence from Serbia in the next few days.
The move is likely to be followed by swift recognition from the United States and most European Union nations.
However, Serbia and its ally Russia oppose any declaration.
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