Rice: Kosova will get its independence from Serbia “one way or another”

Rice, 19th of July 2007: Kosova will get its independence from Serbia “one way or another”

Kosova will get its independence from Serbia “one way or another” despite Russia’s objections at the United Nations, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday.
The United States is increasingly frustrated with Moscow’s refusal to agree on a U.N. resolution that would lead to Kosova’s independence from Russian ally Serbia, leading to suggestions it will explore taking action outside of the 15-member Security Council.
Rice told reporters traveling with her to Lisbon for a meeting of the quartet of Middle East mediators that U.S. President George W. Bush had made it very clear that Kosova should have its independence from Serbia.
“The United States is absolutely committed to that,” said Rice, who will see Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Lisbon at the meeting of the quartet, which comprises the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.
Asked whether the United States was prepared to move on Kosova’s path to independence outside of the United Nations, Rice said: “We are committed to an independent Kosova and we will get there one way or another.”Rice: Kosova will get its independence from Serbia “one way or another”.