Trio starts long-shot hunt for Kosovo compromise

BELGRADE, Aug 11 (Reuters) Envoys of Russia, the United States, and the European Union met Serb leaders to launch a last-ditch bid for compromise on the breakaway province of Kosovo and its Albanian majority's demand for independence.

The diplomatic ''troika'' had an introductory meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and President Boris Tadic, political rivals who have closed ranks expressly to present a steadfast front rejecting independence.

''We have had a good first session here today. The troika had its first business meeting. We had the opportunity to explain in detail the purpose, the scope and the mandate of our mission,'' said the EU's Wolfgang Ischinger, a German ambassador.

''We are going to proceed with more discussions later today.

This is the beginning of a process that will lead us into December,'' he said, referring to the December 10 deadline for a report to the United Nations.

Kostunica and Tadic did not speak to reporters.

The troika took on the Kosovo mission last month after a Western-backed resolution for independence -- derived from 13 months of fruitless talks -- was blocked at the United Nations by Russia, acting on behalf of its ally, Serbia.

Kosovo has been run by the United Nations for the past eight years, since the Western allies launched military intervention in 1999 to rescue its two million ethnic Albanians from ethnic cleansing by Serb forces under the late Slobodan Milosevic.

Serious talks on its future status began only in early 2006, when the West decided it could not baby-sit the province for ever. Washington wanted a resolution last year, but now it looks like there may still be no deal by the end of 2007.

''FINAL DELAY'' The prospects of the troika succeeding where UN diplomacy failed look slim. Russian President Vladimir Putin is dug in on one side, US President George W Bush has come down clearly on the other and the 27-member EU is straddling the in-between.

On top of these contradictions in the mediation team, there is no glimmer of give from Serbs or Albanians on the bottom line -- Kosovo's independence. The Serbs offer full autonomy within Serbia, but no role in Serb society or national affairs. The Albanians want no link to Belgrade at all in their future.

The troika was due to fly south by helicopter toay to NATO headquarters in Kosovo, for talks with Albanian leaders.

''We will tell ''troika'' this is the last delay for Kosovo's status and even this delay was unnecessary,'' Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said. ''Right after these 120 days of talks the decision to recognize Kosovo's independence should be taken,'' he told reporters in the capital, Pristina.

Commentators wonder what more can be achieved by further talks, beyond a ritual 'one more chance for negotiation' before the major powers go their separate ways, with Washington and a coalition of EU willing recognising an independent Kosovo.

EU envoy Ischinger, speaking in London on Thursday after the first meeting of the troika, said the Western-backed plan by U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari, which Serbia insists it has killed off, is still on the table.

''It is not our job as a troika to make new proposals. It is a fact that the Ahtisaari plan is on the table,'' said the German diplomat. ''We will encourage both sides to tell us, if not in this way, how then do they intend to agree?'' The Ahtisaari plan offers Kosovo's 90-per cent Albanian majority independence under EU supervision -- a mission the whole EU is willing to take on, provided there is a UN mandate.

Russia, however, insists it is a dead letter.

If there is no UN mandate -- and Russia holds the key to that -- then EU unity could crack and a half dozen member states with misgivings about granting independence to separatists could refuse to recognise Kosovo, denying the mission EU blessing.

NATO powers leading 16,000 troops in Kosovo fear unrest if independence is blocked. Russia has no troops there.

REUTERS SLD VC0925