TALKS BEGIN BETWEEN SERBIA, NATO AND ALBANIA ABOUT THE CRISIS IN SOUTHERN SERBIA








BELGRADE, March 1, 2001. /RIA Novosti correspondent Alexander Slabynko/. Representatives of the Serbian government, NATO and Albanians have begun talks today about the crisis in southern Serbia and the possible shrinking of the buffer security zone. The talks are being conducted behind closed doors in the town of Bujanovac.


	According to a RIA Novosti correspondent, last night Nebojsa Covic, Serbian deputy prime minister, spent several hours at the negotiating table with Peter Feith, special envoy of NATO Secretary-General, and Sean Sullivan, KFOR political adviser in Yugoslavia. After the talks, Peter Feith told journalists that they had reached a high level of understanding with the Belgrade authorities. He declined to disclose the details but admitted that the shrinking of the buffer security zone was also under discussion.


	Nebojsa Covic stressed that the sides were on the way to understanding as regards the larger part of the authorities' plan. He reiterated his opinion that Albanians from southern Serbia should take part in negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the crisis.