Kosovo asks for independence date; told to wait

PRISTINA, Serbia, July 9 (Reuters) Kosovo appealed to the US today to set a date for the province's controversial independence from Serbia, in a bid to kickstart faltering Western efforts to steer the project through the United Nations.

Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku called for a ''new approach'' in light of Russia's opposition to a UN Security Council resolution opening the door to the territory's secession. He again hinted at a unilateral declaration of independence.

Kosovo, where 90 per cent of the 2 million people are Albanians, has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombs forced out Serb troops that had been trying to drive out Albanians as part of a two-year war with guerrillas.

Today a visiting senior US diplomat told the territory to engage in new, ''limited'' talks with Serbia, reflecting concern Kosovo's Albanian majority risks losing the support of the European Union if it takes matters into its own hands.

''President Bush said that one day we should say 'enough is enough','' Ceku said, recalling comments by US President George W Bush is Albania on June 10.

''This 'enough' should have a date. We need a clear calendar, a clear date and a clear way to resolve Kosovo's status,'' he said in his weekly radio address.

''Because of Russian resistance, the UN Security Council is unable to take a decision on Kosovo's status.'' The West is considering up to six months of more talks between Serbs and Albanians in a bid to overcome Russian opposition to independence.

Fresh talks would take the issue into 2008, well beyond the original end-2006 deadline set by the West when negotiations began in February last year. NATO has 16,000 soldiers in Kosovo, and is warning of unrest.

LIMITED PERIOD OF NEGOTIATION US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, visiting Kosovo, said the UN route was ''by far the better way forward''.

''I don't think at this point unilateral declarations based on fear and lack of confidence will help the cause of Kosovo independence,'' he told reporters following talks with Ceku.

''It is the belief of my government that the way ahead through a limited period of negotiation is the best way forward and will result in the best possible outcome.'' Fried said Kosovo's leaders would travel to Washington to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later in July.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated today that Moscow would only support a solution acceptable to both Serbia, which does not want the province to go independent, and Kosovo.

Thirteen months of talks ended in March in stalemate and UN mediator Martti Ahtisaari has said an agreed solution is impossible. The European Union fears the unity of its 27 members on Kosovo statehood would collapse without a UN resolution.

In Lisbon, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon echoed calls for patience.

''As this process is going on I would strongly urge Kosovo not to take any premature unilateral action,'' he said.

''This would seriously damage and negatively affect ongoing negotiations on this issue.'' REUTERS SBC BST2326