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Leaders hold final Kosovo talks Leaders hold final Kosovo talks
(about 4 hours later)
A final round of talks between top Serbian and ethnic Albanian leaders on the future of Kosovo has begun in the Austrian capital, Vienna. A final round of talks between top Serbian and ethnic Albanian leaders on the future of Kosovo is taking place in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
The negotiations are being chaired by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, who must present his proposals on Kosovo's status to the UN by the end of March.The negotiations are being chaired by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, who must present his proposals on Kosovo's status to the UN by the end of March.
The summit is seen as a last chance for two sides who remain very far apart to present their views on his plan.The summit is seen as a last chance for two sides who remain very far apart to present their views on his plan.
He backs a form of self-rule for Kosovo which stops short of full independence.He backs a form of self-rule for Kosovo which stops short of full independence.
Ethnic Albanian politicians are broadly in favour of the blueprint, which gives Kosovo the trappings of a sovereign state, but Serbia strongly opposes the plan.Ethnic Albanian politicians are broadly in favour of the blueprint, which gives Kosovo the trappings of a sovereign state, but Serbia strongly opposes the plan.
Diplomatic struggleDiplomatic struggle
At the talks, which mark the end of a year-long diplomatic process, Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica are expected to voice their formal rejection of Mr Ahtisaari's proposals.At the talks, which mark the end of a year-long diplomatic process, Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica are expected to voice their formal rejection of Mr Ahtisaari's proposals.
Q&A Kosovo's futureQ&A Kosovo's future
Kosovan President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Agim Ceku are set to give their broad backing for the document.Kosovan President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Agim Ceku are set to give their broad backing for the document.
Before they opened, Hashim Thaci of the Kosovan Albanian delegation said that independence for the province was the only feasible option. "We came here today to complete this important process and make our contribution to an independent Kosovo," Mr Sejdiu said before the talks opened.
"We want everybody in Kosovo to take the right decision, a decision of independence, and for us as Kosovans, the only solution is to respect the will of the people," he said. But Mr Kostunica said "snatching Kosovo from Serbia would represent the most dangerous precedent in the history of the UN," according to remarks distributed to reporters.
But in Belgrade on Friday, a statement from Mr Tadic's office said that the Serbian president planned to urge Mr Ahtisaari to consider "all damaging consequences that the independence of Kosovo could have in the region and other parts of the world". In Belgrade on Friday, a statement from Mr Tadic's office said the Serbian president planned to urge Mr Ahtisaari to consider "all damaging consequences that the independence of Kosovo could have in the region and other parts of the world".
After the meeting, Mr Ahtisaari is expected to forward his final plan to the UN Security Council by the end of March. Once Mr Ahtisaari has presented his final plan to the UN Security Council at the end of March, it will then be up to the UN's highest body to decide whether to approve or reject his proposals.
It will then be up to the UN's highest body to decide whether to approve or reject his proposals. This could be where the real diplomatic struggle begins, correspondents say.
But, correspondents say, this could be where the real diplomatic struggle begins. Serbia wants veto-wielding Russia to stick to its long-held position that it will not accept a deal on Kosovo's status unless it is agreed by both sides. But the BBC's Gabriel Partos says the US and EU countries argue that if the plan is blocked, Kosovo's overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian population could go ahead with a unilateral declaration of independence, which might lead to a chaotic situation and possibly violence.
Serbia wants veto-wielding Russia to stick to its long-held position that it will not accept a deal on Kosovo's status unless it is agreed by both sides.
But the BBC's Gabriel Partos says the US and EU countries argue that if the plan is blocked, Kosovo's overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian population could go ahead with a unilateral declaration of independence, which might lead to a chaotic situation and possibly violence.
Ethnic Albanians comprise some 90% of Kosovo's two million people.Ethnic Albanians comprise some 90% of Kosovo's two million people.
The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign forced out Serbian troops in 1999.The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign forced out Serbian troops in 1999.