Kosovo wants independence this year

Kosovo stressed yesterday it wanted independence from Serbia by the end of 2007 after the West and Russia launched a last-ditch bid for compromise over the fate of the breakaway province.

A "troika" of envoys from Russia, the United States and the European Union met leaders of the 90-per-cent ethnic Albanian majority after arriving from Belgrade, where they started their diplomatic mission on Friday.

The Albanians told the envoys bluntly that statehood was non-negotiable and they expected to achieve it within months.

The envoys took on the mission last month after a Western-backed resolution calling for statehood under EU supervision was blocked at the United Nations by Serbia's ally Russia. The UN impasse followed 13 months of fruitless Serb-Albanian dialogue led by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

Western diplomats admit the latest round of diplomacy and talks stand little chance of success, and might only buy time before Kosovo's two million Albanians declare independence unilaterally and seek recognition from the major Western powers.

The troika is due to report back to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by December 10.

Washington says it will not negotiate beyond that date and has indicated it would recognise Kosovo even without a UN resolution. Russia has threatened to veto independence at the UN Security Council. There is no hint of concession from Serbs or Albanians on the bottom line - Kosovo's independence.

Serbia has offered autonomy but no suggestion of how it would reintegrate two million hostile Albanians.

If there is no UN mandate, to which Russia holds the key, then the unity of the 27-member EU could crack, with half a dozen members refusing to recognise Kosovo.