UN envoy sets Jan. 25 as tentative start to talks on Kosovo's future

Associated Press, Jan 12, 2006 7:12 AM

 

VIENNA, Austria-The U.N. envoy appointed to oversee talks on Kosovo's future said Thursday he hoped Serbs and ethnic Albanian representatives will meet for a first round Jan. 25 in Vienna.

 

Martti Ahtisaari faces a difficult task, as the majority ethnic Albanians want complete independence, while Serbia wants to retain some formal control over the province that has been administered by the United Nations since the end of the Kosovo war in 1999.

 

The agenda will include talks on decentralization of Kosovo's administration and the protection of minorities and cultural objects, he said after meeting Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

 

A seasoned negotiator, Ahtisaari was chosen by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to oversee status talks for the contested province. Ahtisaari also mediated talks between Indonesia and Aceh rebels, which ended with the signing of a peace treaty in August.