Tension in the Balkans

Kosovo is on the brink of declaring independence. This idea is very unpopular not only with Serbia (there are significant enclaves of Serbians in Kosovo) but with Russia as well. It is known too that some other European countries are lukewarm about Kosovo's plans. I have read of the suggestion that the carrot of joining the European Union might be dangled in front of Serbia in an attempt to placate their people. Most of the time I'm not too enthusiastic about cosying up to Europe but this just might be an opportunity for the Union to do something really useful. Certainly the ethnic tensions in this troubled part of the World always seem to be bubbling just below the surface. Let's hope and pray that violence doesn't break out once again.