Vienna hosts crucial Kosovo talks

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By Daisy Ayliffe
- 23rd July 2006

Formal talks to decide the future status of Kosovo begin in Vienna on Monday.

The crucial meeting brings together political leaders from Serbia and Kosovo - the first time such high-level delegations have met since the conflict ended.

The Serb army was forced out of Kosovo following Nato bombing in 1999.

Technically still part of Serbia, Kosovo has since been run by the international community.

At the one day meeting on Monday, both sides are expected to set agree on a timetable for future negotiations.

Ninety percent of Kosovo's 2 million people are Albanians - who reject any return to Serb rule, while Serbia sees Kosovo as its own.

UN chief mediator Martti Ahtisaari has played down hopes of a breakthrough on Monday.

Ahtisaari's spokeswoman, Hua Jiang, said the meeting would give both sides the chance to "formally present and clarify their positions."

"We all know what the positions are, and they are far, far apart," said Jiang.

There remains a great deal of tension between the two communities and Nato recently reinforced its presence in the province.

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