Aug 07, 2006

Kosova Sides Head into New Talks


Talks on Kosova's future are to resume in Vienna involving delegations from Belgrade and Pristina, focusing on decentralisation and community rights.
There is pressure on both sides from the international community to resolve the province's long-term political status by the end of this year.
Decentralisation has been discussed by the Kosova, ethnic Albanian and Serbian delegations in the past.
Tensions have been rising in the province in recent weeks.
Local Serb politicians have heavily criticised the acting head of the United Nations mission, accusing him of favouring the Kosova Albanians.
No breakthrough
The Nato-led peacekeeping force, K-For, has recently reopened a base and deployed extra troops in Serb areas to the north.
No major breakthrough has been reached in previous rounds of talks. Technically, Kosova remains part of Serbia but it has been run by the UN since the war ended in 1999.
Two weeks ago, the presidents and prime ministers of Serbia and Kosova met for the first time to discuss the long-term political status of the province. Again, no agreement was reached.
Albanian leaders are insisting on independence while Serb leaders have said they are prepared to negotiate anything but.