UN Council gets resolution on Kosovo independence

UNITED NATIONS, June 20 (Reuters) The United States and European nations circulated today a draft UN Security Council resolution that would pave the way for independence in Kosovo if further negotiations fail in four months time.

The text, obtained by Reuters, asks UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to convene negotiations over a 120-day period between Serbian and Kosovo leaders and ''demands that the parties refrain from making any unilateral declarations regarding final status during that period.'' After that time, the resolution automatically would put into effect a plan by U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari that paves the way toward independence for the Serbian province, now administered by the United Nations. But Russia, which has veto power on the council, has not agreed to the plan unless Belgrade consents.

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