Kosovo independence sparks fears of 'domino effect' in Europe

"There exists a real risk of seeing the end of the quasi-dogma of the inviolability of borders that has prevailed since the Second World War," said Jean-Yves Camus, an expert at the IRIS research institute in Paris.

And this will benefit "movements that seek to redraw the map of Europe based on ethnic, linguistic or cultural criteria," he said.

Kosovo's parliament, dominated by its ethnic Albanian majority, is expected to proclaim independence from Serbia ahead of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers set for Monday.

The move is backed by the United States and most members of the 27-nation European Union, but is bitterly opposed by Russia, which has long had strong ties with Serbia, and by Belgrade.

Spain, which is faced with separatist movements not only its northern Basque region but also in eastern

Catalonia, has stated it would not recognise any unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.

A Spanish government source said Kosovo is a "delicate and very poisonous issue".

Separatists in the Basque Country and in Catalonia are following the situation in the UN-administered province closely.

The armed Basque separatist organisation ETA -- blamed for the deaths of more than 800 people in its almost 40-year campaign -- last month pointed to the example of Kosovo to argue it "is not talking about utopias."

Spanish Defence Minister Jose Antonio Alonso emphasised that the situation in Kosovo "cannot be transposed into any other country in the European Union, and even less so in Spain."

Elsewhere in Europe, there are similar fears that Kosovo independence could set a precedent.

In Belgium, the nationalist New Flemish Alliance, close to the probable next Christian Democrat prime minister Yves Leterme, believes that the "right to self-determination of peoples is essential."

It has called for Belgium to support the independence of the province, a prospect which alarms French-speaking deputies in the country who fear the "domino effect."

"Why must (Europe) persist in maintaining this intermediate roof that is called Belgium," Flemish nationalist leader Bart de Wever wrote in the French newspaper Le Monde in November.

Dutch-speaking Flanders, more wealthy than French-speaking Wallonia, accounts for some 60 percent of Belgium's 10.5 million population.

In Scotland, the Scottish National Party, which has headed the regional government since last May, has pledged to hold a referendum on independence in 2010.

But unlike in the Basque Country, Scottish nationalists have taken a non-violent approach.

"Not a single person has died arguing for or against Scottish independence," said Scotland's SNP First Minister Alex Salmond.

"The only advice we give to other countries is to find a democratic and totally peaceful method of pursuing your aims and objectives," he told AFP.

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