Trapped:

Kosovo’s declaration of independence was never going to be easy. Still, it is alarming to see the Serbian government so unwilling to peacefully channel its citizens’ anger and disappointment. Its failure to control rampaging crowds that set fire last Thursday to part of the United States Embassy compound in Belgrade — and attacked several other embassies — is a shocking and unacceptable abdication of responsibility.

When Kosovo declared its independence last week, it did so with the full support of the US and other major states under a sensible UN plan that includes international supervision and protection for the Serb minority. Earlier this month, a slim majority of Serbians voted for a better future by re-electing President Boris Tadic. Since then, nationalist leaders have incited passions with anti-Western rhetoric and promises never to relinquish Kosovo.

The EU has offered Serbia an agreement that would begin to open European markets to Serbian products and relax some travel restrictions as a first step toward membership in the union. On Friday, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said negotiations would be delayed until the crisis abated. Belgrade has a lot to lose by ignoring such warnings. History has proved that Balkan resentments can trigger wider conflict. It must not happen again. — The New York Times