Formal talks to decide the future status of Kosova are due to begin in Vienna on MONDAY 24 July involving political leaders from Serbia and Kosova itself.

Kosova, technically still part of Serbia, has been run by the international community since the end of the war in 1999.
These are the most important talks over its future since Nato bombing forced the Serb army out in 1999. They are being brokered by United Nations special envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

The prime ministers and presidents of Serbia and Kosova will be present - the first time such high-level delegations have met since the conflict. Both sides are expected to set out their future visions of the province and agree on a timetable for future negotiations.
During the past few months, lower-level talks have taken place to discuss such issues as the economy.

But the thorny issue of Kosova's long-term status has been avoided. The vast majority of Kosova's two million population is ethnically Albanian. They want the province to become an independent state. The Serbs want to see Kosova remain a part of Serbia proper.

The challenge for Martti Ahtisaari is to somehow help reconcile the differences. No-one is underestimating the challenge. There remains a great deal of tension between the two communities and Nato recently reinforced its presence in the province.