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UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has said that negotiators on the future of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo will report to him by December 10, an indication the tortuous talks may end by then.
Ban, in a statement, expressed hope that the Contact Group of Balkan advisors would be successful in achieving an agreement on Kosovo's future status, although there were few signs the deadlock would be broken.
The talks, led by a troika of European Union, United States and Russian envoys, are expected to start in mid-August, according to Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief.
Ban said he had been briefed by the Contact Group "on the modalities for further negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade" but gave no details. He said the group would report back to him by Dec. 10.
Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when Nato bombs forced out Serbian troops who were killing and expelling Albanians in a two-year war with guerrillas.
Russia, which backs Serbia's opposition to the independence for Kosovo, forced the West drop a UN Security Council vote on the issue. Instead, the Contact Group took over the talks.
The defunct Security Council resolution called for another 120 days of talks between Serbian and Kosovo leaders, but Moscow, which has veto power in the council, insisted negotiations should be open-ended.
Diplomats said the fact the Contact Group would report to the United Nations in December indicated an informal deadline on the negotiations.
"The international community must find a solution that is timely, addresses the key concerns of all communities living in Kosovo and provides clarity for Kosovo's status," Ban said. "The status quo is not sustainable."
"I welcome this initiative by the Contact Group," Ban said. "I hope that the new period of engagement will lead to agreement on Kosovo's future status, which remains a priority for the United Nations."
Kosovo's 90 per cent ethnic Albanian majority want independence and will accept open-ended international supervision of their treatment of the mainly Serb minority and its cultural, religious and historic sites.
On Tuesday, Russia insisted that any new talks not be based on UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan. But Ban's said Ahtisaari "will be associated with the process by standing ready to provide information and clarification on the request."
"The UN will continue to play a constructive role in the new period of engagement and continue its major role on the ground in Kosovo," Ban said.
Russia refused to vote for the Security Council draft resolution, which called for 120 days of talks, because it set up a framework for independence by withdrawing UN officials from the province and substituting European representatives.
Diplomats, however, are concerned that Kosovo's patience is wearing thin and Pristina will unilaterally declare independence.
- REUTERS
