KOSOVO SERB LEADERS SUPPORT DJINDJIC, ALBANIANS WITHOUT COMMENT

PRISTINA, Jan 17 (Hina) - Thursday's statement by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic that Kosovo was on the road towards independence and his insisting on talks which would put an end to that process on Friday prompted reactions by disunited Kosovo Serbs. Kosovo Albanian leaders have not commented on Djindjic's statements yet. #L# The Pristina-based Albanian-language daily "Zeri" quoted Kosovo Serb leaders Rada Trajkovic and Momcilo Trajkovic as supporting Djinjdic's stands. The two politicians urged the start of negotiations on the final status of Kosovo, which would also include Kosovo Serb representatives. The two Kosovo Serb leaders, who are at odds with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic, chairman of the Co- ordination Committee for Kosovo and leader of one wing of the Kosovo Serb coalition "Return", opposed changes to borders. The political opponent of Rada Trajkovic and Momcilo Trajkovic, Oliver Ivanovic, a Serb leader from northern Kosovo, said Kosovo's independence was an illusion of the Kosovo Albanian leadership aimed at diverting the attention of Kosovo residents from actual problems. Representatives of the Kosovo institutions and Albanian political leaders did not comment on Djindjic's statement that one should "stop the process of Kosovo's transformation into a state". Local Albanian leaders previously stated on several occasions that talks with Belgrade could be conducted only with international mediation, under the leadership of the United States. (hina) rml