Cohen  MILITARY PLAN: RELATED VIDEO With Russia continuing to insist on a major role in Yugoslavia, Russians worry about the economic impact. CNN's Steve Harrigan reports. (June 17) Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Christiane Amanpour reports on some of the people who stayed in Kosovo during the conflict (June 17) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Richard Blystone reports on one family's return to their home destroyed by Yugoslav forces (June 17) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K  INTERACTIVE KFOR enters Kosovo NATO rolls into Kosovo  ALSO: U.S., France won't rebuild Yugoslavia if Milosevic stays  MESSAGE BOARD: Crisis in Kosovo  IN-DEPTH SPECIAL: Focus on Kosovo

June 17, 1999
Web posted at: 12:09 p.m. EDT (1609 GMT)

HELSINKI, Finland (CNN) -- U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen delivered a "detailed proposal" to Russian officials Thursday in a bid to resolve the question of Russia's role in the Kosovo peacekeeping mission.

Cohen submitted the plan for Russia's review on the second day of talks in Helsinki, the Finnish capital. A senior Defense Department official said the proposal is aimed at resolving the last outstanding issue between the United States and Russia, but the official would not say what the sticking point was.

Other U.S. officials said the talks have foundered on a Russian demand for control of a separate zone in Kosovo. That is a demand that NATO countries, which lead the KFOR mission, have refused.

Cohen and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright are leading the U.S. delegation in Helsinki in talks with their Russian counterparts -- Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

Those close to the talks said the plan Cohen presented does not create a new sector for the Russians. U.S. officials would not say if they were optimistic about the prospects for reaching an agreement Thursday.

"Both sides want to reach an agreement," one said. "That much is clear from these talks."

Among the topics in Helsinki was the contingent of about 200 Russian troops that moved unexpectedly into Kosovo early Saturday, taking control of Pristina's airport.

According to the Russians, the Helsinki talks have settled the question of Russia's role at the airport. But U.S. officials said the issues have to be settled as a whole, not one by one.

The Russians have kept NATO from setting up a planned base at the airfield, but British troops around the airport have kept them supplied with food and water, said Adm. Ian Garnett, Britain's chief of joint operations.

Russia, which is not a NATO member, also has balked at placing its troops under a NATO commander, British Lt. Gen. Mike Jackson said.

In Paris, U.S. President Bill Clinton was still predicting a "successful conclusion" to the talks Thursday.

"The atmosphere is pretty positive and pretty hopeful," Clinton said on the lawn of Elysee Palace after a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac.

Sergeyev struck an optimistic tone as well, predicting that differences about Russian participation would be resolved by the weekend.

"We're moving in the right direction," Sergeyev said. "Along every road, we made a different progress."

Correspondents Andrea Koppel and Jamie McIntyre contributed to this report.

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