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UN Kosovo vote plan put on hold UN Kosovo vote plan put on hold
(about 3 hours later)
The US and its European allies have put on hold plans for a UN Security Council resolution on Kosovo's future after encountering Russian opposition.The US and its European allies have put on hold plans for a UN Security Council resolution on Kosovo's future after encountering Russian opposition.
French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said discussions would now be renewed outside the UN.French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said discussions would now be renewed outside the UN.
Russia has vowed to veto a draft resolution that would give Kosovo "supervised independence" - based on recommendations of a UN envoy.Russia has vowed to veto a draft resolution that would give Kosovo "supervised independence" - based on recommendations of a UN envoy.
Kosovo - currently part of Serbia - has been governed by the UN since 1999.Kosovo - currently part of Serbia - has been governed by the UN since 1999.
The province's ethnic Albanian majority wants independence but its minority Serbs - and the government in Belgrade - oppose this. The province's ethnic Albanian majority wants independence but its Serbian minority - and the government in Belgrade - opposes this.
Russia has promised to represent the views of its ally, Serbia, at the UN Security Council, where it holds the power to veto resolutions.Russia has promised to represent the views of its ally, Serbia, at the UN Security Council, where it holds the power to veto resolutions.
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said the decision to put on hold plans to push through Kosovo's independence at the UN was an "important victory" for Belgrade and Moscow.
However he insisted that Belgrade was still prepared to engage in discussions on the province's future.
'High drama''High drama'
The French ambassador to the UN said on Friday that it had been impossible to reach agreement on a draft resolution in the Security Council.The French ambassador to the UN said on Friday that it had been impossible to reach agreement on a draft resolution in the Security Council.
"We will therefore put on hold discussions on the resolution," he said. "We will therefore put on hold discussions on the resolution," Mr de la Sabliere said.
France is currently holding the rotating presidency of the Security Council.France is currently holding the rotating presidency of the Security Council.
Mr de la Sabliere said an agreement on Kosovo would now be pursued through the Contact Group - a body consisting of the US, France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Russia.Mr de la Sabliere said an agreement on Kosovo would now be pursued through the Contact Group - a body consisting of the US, France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Russia.
He added that the issue had to be resolved "as soon as possible" and that the UN plan remained the best way forward.He added that the issue had to be resolved "as soon as possible" and that the UN plan remained the best way forward.
No member of the Contact Group has the right to exercise a veto on decisions.No member of the Contact Group has the right to exercise a veto on decisions.
Asked why the draft resolution was not put to a Security Council vote, UK envoy to the UN Emyr Jones Parry, said: "We don't want high drama which might have a consequence in the region. We have got to be responsible."Asked why the draft resolution was not put to a Security Council vote, UK envoy to the UN Emyr Jones Parry, said: "We don't want high drama which might have a consequence in the region. We have got to be responsible."
Kosovo came under UN administration after the withdrawal of Serbian forces in 1999.Kosovo came under UN administration after the withdrawal of Serbian forces in 1999.
The Serbian pull-out came after Nato air raids, launched to halt a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanians, some of whom had taken up arms.The Serbian pull-out came after Nato air raids, launched to halt a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanians, some of whom had taken up arms.