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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Leaders to discuss Kosovo future | Leaders to discuss Kosovo future |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A final round of talks between Serbian and ethnic Albanian leaders over Kosovo's future is set to begin. | |
| The talks chaired by the United Nations special envoy for Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, will take place in Vienna. | The talks chaired by the United Nations special envoy for Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, will take place in Vienna. |
| The focus of these discussions will be a set of UN proposals which would give Kosovo all the trappings of an independent state. | The focus of these discussions will be a set of UN proposals which would give Kosovo all the trappings of an independent state. |
| Serbia opposes independence for Kosovo which has been under UN administration since fighting ended in 1999. | Serbia opposes independence for Kosovo which has been under UN administration since fighting ended in 1999. |
| No-one is expecting any major breakthrough during these talks but Mr Ahtisaari said he wanted to give both sides the opportunity to discuss the issues one more time. | No-one is expecting any major breakthrough during these talks but Mr Ahtisaari said he wanted to give both sides the opportunity to discuss the issues one more time. |
| New rights | New rights |
| At the centre of the negotiations will be Mr Ahtisaari's own proposals for the future of the province which he unveiled earlier this month. | At the centre of the negotiations will be Mr Ahtisaari's own proposals for the future of the province which he unveiled earlier this month. |
| They would give Kosovo its own constitution, flag and national anthem and the right to apply for membership of international organisations. | They would give Kosovo its own constitution, flag and national anthem and the right to apply for membership of international organisations. |
| Serbia claims the plan paves the way for an independent Kosovo, something desired by its majority Albanian population but strongly opposed by Serbia. | Serbia claims the plan paves the way for an independent Kosovo, something desired by its majority Albanian population but strongly opposed by Serbia. |
| A spokesman for Mr Ahtisaari acknowledged the positions of both sides regarding the issue of status were completely opposite. | A spokesman for Mr Ahtisaari acknowledged the positions of both sides regarding the issue of status were completely opposite. |
| Mr Ahtisaari has said he will present his final set of proposals to the UN Security Council in the second half of March whether or not an agreement is reached. | Mr Ahtisaari has said he will present his final set of proposals to the UN Security Council in the second half of March whether or not an agreement is reached. |
| It will then be left to the Security Council to approve or reject the plan. | It will then be left to the Security Council to approve or reject the plan. |