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UN Kosovo draft 'likely to fail' US warns of Kosovo plan failure
(about 6 hours later)
A revised plan on the final status of Kosovo is unlikely to overcome Russian objections at the UN, France says. The United States warned Russia against blocking a UN Security Council resolution on the future of Kosovo.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he doubted whether Russia would compromise with the EU and the US over a new plan for Kosovo's future. US Ambassador at the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, said in case of failure the process could lead the Security Council losing control of the process.
The EU and US have warned they may seek a solution for Kosovo outside the UN if a new draft resolution is not agreed. Earlier, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner cast doubt on Russia's cooperation over Kosovo.
Russia opposes independence for Kosovo - currently a province of its ally, Serbia, though administered by the UN. Moscow has constantly opposed any move towards separation from Serbia of the ethnic-Albanian majority province.
Mr Khalilzad told reporters that Russia would be responsible for blocking the draft resolution and warned of the consequences.
"Either the Council deals with this, with Russia playing a constructive role, taking a step in the right direction, or Russia will be responsible for pushing this process outside the council", Mr Khalilzad said on Wednesday.
Just a few hours earlier, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he was not optimistic about a deal on Kosovo.
"I hope there will be a compromise with the Russians on the resolution... but I very much doubt it," he said.
Russia is unmoved
Earlier in the day, the Russian Ambassador at the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, had rejected the latest version of the text, even though a reference to an automatic path to "supervised independence" had been removed.
Some Kosovo Albanians are growing impatient with negotiations
This new draft is the UN's third attempt to seek support from Russia, which insists that Kosovo can only become independent with the consent of its ally, Serbia.
Moscow says the revised draft being drawn up in New York attempts to achieve independence for Kosovo through the back door.Moscow says the revised draft being drawn up in New York attempts to achieve independence for Kosovo through the back door.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority want independence from Serbia but its minority Serbs - and the government in Belgrade - oppose this.Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority want independence from Serbia but its minority Serbs - and the government in Belgrade - oppose this.
The province has been under UN administration since 1999, when a Nato invasion drove out Serbian security forces accused of repressing ethnic Albanians, some of whom had taken up arms.The province has been under UN administration since 1999, when a Nato invasion drove out Serbian security forces accused of repressing ethnic Albanians, some of whom had taken up arms.
Independence promise
After talks in Paris with UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Mr Kouchner said he was not optimistic about a deal on Kosovo.
"I hope there will be a compromise with the Russians on the resolution... but I very much doubt it," he said.
No date has been set for voting on the new draft, which is likely to be presented to the UN Security Council despite Moscow's objections.No date has been set for voting on the new draft, which is likely to be presented to the UN Security Council despite Moscow's objections.
Russia is one of five members of the council with the right to veto resolutions.Russia is one of five members of the council with the right to veto resolutions.
The new draft resolution suggests the EU should take over the administration of Kosovo from the UN if four months of negotiations fail to produce a deal.
Unlike an earlier draft, it does not promise Kosovo "supervised independence", irrespective of the outcome of four months of talks.
This new draft is the UN's third attempt to seek support from Russia, which insists that Kosovo can only become independent with Belgrade's consent.