The United Nations Special envoy Martti Ahtisaari on Friday met representatives of the Contact Group consisting of the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Russia, to present them his plans on the future status of Kosovo.

Instead of using the term "independence," the plan focuses strongly on autonomy and the protection of minority rights, according to the statements of western diplomats.

The UN special envoy also made a foresight of "a strong international civilian and military presences within a broader future international engagement in Kosovo," western diplomats said, but the former Yugoslav province will still be placed under the UN administration for a period of time.

The meeting had been scheduled for last November, however, Russia insisted that any UN decisions on Kosovo should be postponed until Serbia had formed a new government following its general election on Jan. 21.

As a traditional ally of Serbia, Russia asked for "a longer period" to consider the plan, western diplomats said after the meeting.

The five Western members of the group reached an agreement and recommended the plan be carried out without delay.

Ahtisaari will visit Belgrade, the Serbian capital, and Pristina, Kosovo's provincial capital on Feb. 2, to formally present his proposals to the two sides.

Due to the widening rift between Russia, a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, and the West, some diplomats expected lengthy debates at the UN Security Council before the final decision on Kosovo's future would be made in March.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority is pushing for outright independence from Serbia, while Serbian leaders want it to be remained as part of Serbia. Negotiations on the future status of Kosovo were officially launched in November 2005.

Source: Xinhua