UN officials embark on Kosovo mission

The UN Security Council headed to Europe last night on a crucial visit before considering whether to back eventual independence for Kosovo.

The plan is supported by the United States and key European nations but opposed by Russia.

Kosovo is a province of Serbia but it has been under UN and Nato administration since a 78-day Nato-led air war that halted a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in 1999.

Last month, UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari recommended that the impoverished region of two million be granted internationally supervised independence – a proposal welcomed by its 90 percent ethnic Albanian majority but vehemently rejected by its Serb minority and Serbia.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who proposed the council trip, said “it’s no secret” that Russia wants more negotiations between the Serbian and Kosovo governments to try to bridge the gap.

The United States and Britain made clear, however, that they want quick action.