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Background: Talks on Kosovo`s future status

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-27-2007 08:13

Members of Kosovo's delegation Veton Surroi, Hashim Thaci and Skender Hyseni (L-R) take a break during talks on the UN Kosovo plan for the independence of Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province, in Vienna, November 26, 2007. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer (AUSTRIA)

Nearly two years of UN-mediated talks between Serbian and Kosovo leaders have failed to achieve an agreement on the province's final status. Please takes a look at the history of the dispute and where negotiations are now.

Eight years ago, after a Serbian crackdown on separatist Kosovo Albanians, NATO launched a 79-day bombing campaign to force Serb troops out of the province.

Since then Kosovo has been under US and NATO control, although it is formally still part of Serbia.

The UN Security Council made Kosovo a UN protectorate, but its final status was left unresolved.

Kosovo President Fatmir Sedjiu talks to journalists prior to the last round of Kosovo talks in Baden, Austria. (AFP/Dieter Nagl)

Serbia wants a highly autonomous Kosovo inside the borders of Serbia.

The 2 million predominantly ethnic Albanian population are demanding total independence.

The issue was revitalized last year, with negotiations supervised by the UN Secretary General's special envoy, Martti Ahtisari, and the troika of Russia, the European Union and the United States.

In March this year, Ahtisaari reported to the UN Security Council proposing what amounted to internationally supervised independence for Kosovo.

The West drafted a UN resolution based on the report, but eventually withdrew it from the Security Council due to strong objections from Belgrade and the veto power of Russia.

Serbian President Boris Tadic arrives for the last round of Kosovo talks in Baden, Austria. (AFP/Dieter Nagl)

All parties agreed to continue talks. The latest was held in Brussels on November 20, but Serbia and Kosovan ethnic Albanian leaders failed to come any closer to agreement.

Negotiators and mediators agreed to start another round of talks in Austria on November 26, looking for a compromise before the December 10th deadline.

 

Editor:Zhang Pengfei