Kosovo expects UN independence vote "very soon"

PRISTINA, Serbia, June 4 (Reuters) - Kosovo said today it expected the United Nations to grant the Serbian province independence ''very soon'' and urged Russia to drop its opposition to a Western-drafted Security Council resolution.

The forecast followed local media reports that the Council could vote on the resolution this month.

Western members last week circulated a draft text supporting a plan by U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari and effectively clearing the decks for a declaration of independence by Kosovo's 90-percent ethnic Albanian majority.

The United States says it hopes the Council will act ''promptly'' on the resolution, and that differences with veto-holder Russia should not be insurmountable.

Washington opposes Serbia's demand for a resumption of negotiations, saying it sees no indication that Serbia would negotiate in good faith or change its categorical refusal of independence, since the new Serbian constitution forbids it from even considering anything other than maintenance of sovereignty.

Western diplomats, however, say the process may take longer, and Moscow has given no sign of backing down.

Asked by reporters when he expected the vote to happen, Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku replied: ''Very soon.'' President Fatmir Sejdiu said: ''We have seen the efforts of international community, the European Union and the United States to come up with a new resolution supporting Ahtisaari's plan. We would like Russia to be part of this.'' The province of 2 million people has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombs drove out Serb forces to halt the slaughter and expulsion of civilians in a two-year war with separatist Albanian guerrillas. Ten thousand people died.

The Kosovo daily Zeri, citing Western diplomatic sources, reported today that the United Nations would vote by June 29, before Belgium hands over chairmanship of the Security Council and Germany's EU presidency ends.

Zeri said the earliest possible date for a vote was June 6.

NATO leads a 16,500-strong peace force in the territory, and Western powers fear delay could spark unrest by Albanians impatient for an end to their political and economic limbo.

Kosovo leaders had promised independence by mid-year. They have indicated they are ready to secede unilaterally if made to wait much longer. Diplomats say the US would support a unilateral move, but the 27-member EU would almost certainly be split.

The West-Russia row over Kosovo looks certain to further sour what promises to be a tense summit of the Group of Eight beginning on Wednesday in Germany.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in comments published on Sunday, questioned the West's rush to a decision, calling again for more talks between Serbia and the Kosovo Albanians.

Ahtisaari called a halt to 13 months of direct talks in March. The West says further negotiation would be futile.

REUTERS AM VC2210