November 28 (SeeNews) - Final face-to-face talks between Kosovo Serbs and ethnic Albanians have ended without any compromise on the future status of the U.N.-run southern Serbian province, the Troika of international envoys which mediated the talks said on Wednesday.
The envoys, from the EU, U.S. and Russia, said in a statement that they will work out a report on the future status of Kosovo and present it to the United Nations on December 10 after discussing the draft with Belgrade and Pristina officials on December 3 during a visit to the region.
The Troika urged the parties to continue their commitment to peace after it presents its report to the U.N. and called on both sides to maintain communications without prejudice to their positions on status. Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority demands independence while Serbia rejects this.
"Both sides made it clear they wish to avoid violence. This commitment to peace must continue after the Troika completes its work on December 10," the Troika said in a statement.
The talks, which started in September, were in the Austrian spa town of Baden and ended without any movement from either side on Kosovo's future status, as have all previous talks.
"Regrettably, the parties were unable to reach an agreement on Kosovo’s future status," it added.
Legally still part of Serbia, Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since 1999 following NATO bombing that expelled Serb forces to end what Western powers said was repression of civilians in fighting an ethnic Albanian rebel insurgency. Ethnic Albanians outnumber Serbs and other nationalities in the province by nine to one.
The Troika will conclude its mandate after its submits its status report to the U.N. Secretary General.