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Kosovo awaits UN recommendation UN presents key plan for Kosovo
(about 3 hours later)
The United Nations special envoy to Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, is preparing to unveil a long-awaited plan for the Serbian province's future. The United Nations special envoy to Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, has briefed diplomats on his long-awaited plan for the Serbian province's future.
Mr Ahtisaari's report to the six-nation Contact Group in Vienna will focus on protecting Serb minority rights. He presented the plan behind closed doors in Vienna to the six-nation Contact Group.
The report is the first step towards a final status solution for Kosovo, which has been administered by the UN since the Nato military campaign of 1999.The report is the first step towards a final status solution for Kosovo, which has been administered by the UN since the Nato military campaign of 1999.
Mr Ahtisaari will recommend some form of qualified statehood for Kosovo. The plan will be shown to the Kosovo Albanians and Serbs next week.
In a closed-door meeting in Vienna, Mr Ahtisaari will make his presentation to the six-nation Contact Group of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the US. It is not yet clear whether the plan includes the word that the overwhelming ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo want to hear: independence.
He will propose protection for the Serbian minority and the continuation of international involvement in the province's security structures. The Vienna meeting was attended by diplomats from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the US.
International role
Mr Ahtisaari said this week he wanted a continued international presence, both military and civilian, to protect the minority Serbs in a multi-ethnic society.
He is also recommending that a senior European Union official doubling as an international representative should oversee implementation of the plan.
Mr Ahtisaari began considering his own recommendations when it became clear that direct negotiations between Serb and Kosovo Albanian representatives would not yield a final deal.Mr Ahtisaari began considering his own recommendations when it became clear that direct negotiations between Serb and Kosovo Albanian representatives would not yield a final deal.
The BBC's south-east Europe analyst, Gabriel Partos, says the Finn has sought to allay the fears of Serbs, who have been increasingly concerned that his blueprint will favour the Albanian side. The BBC's South-East Europe analyst, Gabriel Partos, says the Finn has sought to allay the fears of Serbs, who have been increasingly concerned that his blueprint will favour the Albanian side.
Yet Kosovo's ethnic Albanians remain implacably opposed to anything short of full independence.Yet Kosovo's ethnic Albanians remain implacably opposed to anything short of full independence.
Diplomatic effort
Friday's meeting may not result in any of the detail becoming public, says the BBC's Jonny Dymond in Vienna, that may have to wait until next week.
But there could be an opportunity to gauge international reaction, our correspondent says.
Russia has traditionally stood up for the Serbian cause and has promised to oppose any solution unacceptable to the government in Belgrade.Russia has traditionally stood up for the Serbian cause and has promised to oppose any solution unacceptable to the government in Belgrade.
Diplomats say that Serbia itself, which has pledged never to yield Kosovo, is simply going to have to live with the province's departure.Diplomats say that Serbia itself, which has pledged never to yield Kosovo, is simply going to have to live with the province's departure.
But the recommendation may exclude the word "independence", instead allowing Kosovo the trappings of statehood without physically separating from Serbia. But the plan may give Kosovo the trappings of statehood without physically separating it from Serbia.