Serbian government officials are making a third attempt to kick-start talks with ethnic Albanians in Kosovo after a weekend of demonstrations.

But as diplomatic pressure for a new settlement for the formerly autonomous region mounts, ethnic Albanian leaders may again reject talks.

The Serbian team arriving in Pristina, the Kosovo capital, has already been rebufffed twice by parties representing the majority ethnic Albanians in the province of two million.

Rugova: expected to reject talks

The parties told Belgrade that talks are impossible while Serbia refuses to discuss returning the region's autonomy, stripped in 1989.

Around 15,000 people gathered in Pristina to protest against Serbian police operations which have seen some 80 ethnic Albanians killed.

The operations were essential to crack down on militant groups responsible for the deaths of police officers, Serb authorities said.

But speaking ahead of Monday's proposed talks, an Albanian party official signalled a continued boycott.

Fehmi Agani, of the Kosovo Democratic League - the main Albanian party - said the growing separatist movement in the country wanted to see movement by the Serbs.

Gonzalez: Serbs rejecting EU mediator

One proposal is to use a European Union mediator, though the Serbs reject this.

"I suppose that none of the Albanian political parties will participate or respond to the invitation of the Serb government group," Mr Agani, told the B-92 radio station in Kosovo.

Agani, adviser to party head Ibrahim Rugova, added: "I believe the talks are impossible.

"The invitation was addressed to the minorities and not to the Albanians. Moreover the dialogue is strictly conditional."

More demonstrations planned

Another demonstration is planned for Monday

Tension is continuing to rise in the region with parliamentary and presidential elections called by the KDL for March 22 by the KDL, a poll Belgrade is ignoring.

A group of women is also planning to march 50 km (30 miles) to the Drenica region, site of the Serb police actions.

Western European nations, together with the United States and Russia, are seeking a peaceful settlement, fearing the conflict could re-ignite the uneasy peace in the Balkans.

The European Union has both threatened Serbia with sanctions and offered Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez as a mediator between Pristina and Belgrade.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©