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US hopes to settle status of Kosovo within months

Despite gains by ultranationalists in Serbian elections, the US is looking for international negotiators to settle within months whether Kosovo, the restive Serbian province, will be recognized as independent.

US negotiators, who are acquainted with a draft proposal by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, are backing his plan for Kosovo's future, Frank Wisner, the State Department's representative for the Kosovo talks, said on Monday.

Ahtisaari is widely expected to recommend some form of independence for Kosovo. US negotiators hope he can present his proposals to the UN Security Council for a vote by March.

The release of Ahtisaari's plan was delayed in the fall, with the blessing of the US and the EU, so it would not inflame nationalist sentiment in Serbia ahead of national polls and thereby hurt moderate politicians.

Official results from Sunday's election, released on Monday, showed the ultranationalists -- with policies in the mold of former president Slobodan Milosevic -- received more votes than any other single party. Pro-democratic parties were working on Monday to unite and form a government.

The US congratulated Serbia on Monday for "a well-run democratic election," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

"The preliminary outcome reflects the fact that the parties dedicated to democratic reform and a modern European future for Serbia" together outpolled the ultranationalists, he said.

Pro-democratic politicians in Serbia have warned that releasing the report before the formation of a new government would bolster ultranationalists further.

Wisner said the US expected Ahtisaari to open negotiations in Belgrade and Pristina on Feb. 2 with Serbia's caretaker government and representatives from Kosovo.
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