(21 May 1999) Russian/Eng/Nat
Three top envoys trying to end the Kosovo conflict met in Moscow on Thursday night to iron out a peace proposal following its review by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
Former Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, who is heading Russia's mediation efforts for Yugoslavia, was to brief U-S Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari on his talks with Milosevic in Belgrade.
U-S Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott is the latest in a string of envoys arriving in Moscow to talk about peace in Kosovo.
He met with Viktor Chernomyrdin who is leading Moscow's peace efforts.
Later the two held three-way talks with the Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari.
Chernomyrdin briefed them on his latest talks with President Milosevic in Belgrade.
Chernomyrdin and Milosevic discussed a plan by the Group of Eight industrialized nations to end the fighting.
Milosevic told Chernomyrdin that Yugoslavia opposes pulling all of its troops out of Kosovo and allowing an international force to control the province - both of which are NATO demands.
It was unclear whether Chernomyrdin had reached a breakthrough.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"All this time we have been talking just about one thing. This whole conflict, these military operations have to be transferred to the political plane, to the plane of negotiations. Basically nobody wants to leave this arena. That includes NATO countries, especially the European ones.
SUPER CAPTION: Viktor Chernomyrdin, Russian envoy
Earlier in the day, Slovakia's foreign minister also held talks on the Kosovo conflict in Moscow.
Eduard Kukan, acting as special representative of U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan, said the U-N was working towards a Security Council resolution that would form the basis of any agreement with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Definitely everybody agrees the UN has a role to play, the UN has an important role to play, as Mr Ivanov said, in the implementation of the Security Council resolution. And of course, everybody agrees, and everybody is eager to keep Russia playing an active role and participation in this whole process. I think it is very key to the successful future solution of this issue."
SUPER CAPTION: Eduard Kukan, Slovak Foreign Minister
The Russians remain firmly opposed to any plans for a possible NATO ground invasion of Kosovo.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Moscow is holding talks with one aim - to achieve the halting of the bombing and to achieve a political solution. Anything done to escalate the situation will demonstrate the true face of those who carry out such measures."
SUPER CAPTION: Igor Ivanov, Acting Russian Foreign Minister
At the end of a busy diplomatic day, mediators sat down for yet another round of talks on the Kosovo crisis.
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