By Country / Montenegro

UN Envoy Presents Kosovo Proposal To Secretary-General

March 16, 2007 -- The United Nations says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has received a proposal for the future status of Kosovo.

Envoy Martti Ahtisaari forwarded his proposal to the UN chief after Serbia and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders failed to reach an agreement in negotiations.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, released a statement today calling for more talks.

Both the Serbs and ethnic Albanians say Ahtisaari's proposal could lead to Kosovo's independence from Serbia -- an outcome rejected by Serbia but supported by ethnic Albanians.

Ahtisaari's proposal is backed by the United States and the European Union. Russia, however, has said it will not back any plan that does not have Serbia's approval.

The UN Security Council will ultimately decide Kosovo's final status.

(un.org, dpa, Reuters)