Serbian President: Compromise on Kosovo Possible

But a spokesman, Skender Hyseni, for representatives of the province's ethnic Albanian majority rejected the Serbian leader's offer as a recipe for frozen conflicts because of Serbia's refusal to accept Kosovo as an independent country.

Mr. Tadic's offer Tuesday, on the second day of internationally mediated-talks on Kosovo's future in Austria, suggested self-governance and many elements of statehood for the contested province. He said Serbia would retain control over Kosovo's foreign policy, defense and border control.

Negotiations are to be completed by December 10 when mediators are to report to the United Nations. Serbia and its traditional ally, Russia, are urging that negotiations continue after that date.

The three-day closed-door talks in the Austrian spa town of Baden are due to end Wednesday.

Mr. Tadic suggested a list of concessions, offering Kosovo its own flag, anthem and other national symbols. He said the province could have representatives in most international organizations, except the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe.

But Kosovo's ethnic Albanian insist on complete independence.

Serbian Prime Minister Kostunica said Monday that Serbia will not give "an inch of its territory." He said it would be wrong for anyone to assume that Serbia will accept an unwanted solution for Kosovo. - VOA News