On Monday, talks regarding the future of the Serbian province Kosovo began in Baden, Austria. Before sitting down to negotiations Serb and Albanian leaders clashed and according to mediators, a compromise between them seems impossible.

This is the last round of talks regarding the independence of Kosovo.

Serbia, supported by Moscow, refuses to let Kosovo go.

Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said: "Serbia is a sovereign, free, democratic and internationally recognized state. Serbia will not let an inch of its territory be taken away," Reuters reports.

According to Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister-designate Hashim Thaci, there would be no backing down in demanding the independence of Kosovo. There will also be no extensions to the talks beyond December 10, as Russia says it will insist. By that date the the 'troika' of mediators will have to report to the United Nations.

Thaci said: "This is the last meeting, after two years of talks. We can negotiate for 100 years more with Serbia, but for the independence of Kosovo we can have no compromise."

He said that if the both sides show good will the meeting won’t be a waste time.

Serbian President Boris Tadic said: "The ball is in the court of the Albanian delegation today. I hope that we are going to have an agreement that will be mutually acceptable ... otherwise we are going to have instability in the region."

Asked about the extension that Moscow demands after December 10, European Union envoy Wolfgang Ischinger said: "My answer is 'No'." 

He added: “It's not for the troika, and not for members of the troika, to speculate about what might happen after the 10th. Our mandate ends and this opportunity which the international community has offered through the troika ends on the 10^th.”

These talks are the 6^th attempt to reach a deal that it was launched in August, after Russia threat to veto a plan that will grant Kosovo’s independence and will be supported by the West.

Last week Serbia told government ministers to draw up an 'Action Plan' if a unilateral declaration is issued. According to deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic is called “the blackest scenario.”

This could mean roadblocks, obstruction of trade and electricity supplies and the setting up of Serbian-controlled areas in Kosovo

Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said: "We are very much aware that with a declaration of independence ... we are going to be faced with some challenges. We have nowhere to go and we are ready to face all the challenges."