Austrian Head Of EU Advocates For Kosovo's Serbs

Graffiti on a wall in Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo, advocates for independence from Serbia (file photo) (epa) March 21, 2006 -- Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik met with Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku today and told him he has a special responsibility to reach out to the province's Serb community.

Plassnik represents Austria's current EU presidency. She said that at the next round of direct Kosovo talks in Vienna on April 3, the Albanian majority should show "even greater commitment" of protecting the rights of the minority.

Ethnic Albanians, who comprise about 90 percent of the province's population of 2 million, seek full independence. But Serbia, and Kosovo's Serb minority, want Belgrade to retain some control over the province.

(AP)