Serbia and Kosovo’s Albanian separatist leaders are meeting with the UN Security Council to make their cases on the province’s future status.
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Monday that he would urge the 15 council members to call for more talks between the parties to reach a compromise that would exclude Kosovo’s independence.
Prime Minister-designate Hashim Thaci and President Fatmir Sejdiu will push Kosovo's independence claim before the council.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon is also due to take part in the meeting on his return from Algeria.
The council meeting comes days after four months of last-ditch talks between Belgrade and Kosovo's Albanian separatists broke down over the issue of sovereignty for the UN-ruled breakaway Serbian province.
Serbia is willing to offer Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian majority broad autonomy but not independence.
Leaders of Kosovo's 1.8 million ethnic Albanians insist they will make a unilateral declaration of independence in 'coordination' with the US and most EU members within weeks after 18 months of failed talks with Serbia.
Russia however has said that the 'indulgence' of some in allowing Kosovo to move towards independence could have serious negative consequences for regional stability.
