24/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - Two days before the next Troika meeting (26 September) on Kosovo's status and four days before direct negotiations between Serbs and Albanian Kosovans (28 September) at the UN General Assembly in New York, a Serb negotiator on Monday 24 September indicated that Belgrade would offer Pristina “independence within Serbia”. According to this proposal, Serbia would retain competencies and responsibilities in various areas (education, health, social affairs) in Kosovan zones where around 120,000 Serbians have remained in the majority in the province since the 1998-99 conflict. (hb)