By Fatos Bytyci

PRISTINA, Serbia, March 28 (Reuters) - When Russia's ambassador to the United Nations cautioned this month against "preaching the inevitability" of independence for Kosovo, it barely registered in the breakaway Serbian province.

Leaders of the territory's 90-percent ethnic Albanian majority are planning for the big day, despite concern in the West that Moscow could delay, dilute or veto a U.N. independence plan on behalf of its Balkan ally Serbia.

Preparations are well advanced for the creation of a Kosovo army, a foreign ministry, a state constitution and a flag to replace the black-on-red, double-headed eagle of Albania which has flown from public buildings and private homes since 1999.

"The plan is ready," a political source said of the blueprint for the Kosovo Security Force. "We just have one thing to add, and then it's done."

With the help of British legal experts, the Kosovars have drafted a 140-page plan for a foreign ministry and a network of embassies in 14 Western countries and Balkan neighbours.

A state constitution is almost written. Lawmakers this month promised a 'national' design competition for a flag and state symbols.

"The first priority must be to secure membership of the United Nations and other international organisations, which will also require the goodwill and cooperation of Russia," says the plan for the Kosovo foreign ministry, seen by Reuters.

U.N. mediator Martti Ahtisaari submitted his recommendations on Monday for Kosovo, advocating independence supervised by the European Union and secured by NATO. He said independence was "the only viable option", and warned restoration of Serbian rule would invite "violent opposition".

The document won the backing of the United States, European Union and NATO. Only Moscow continues to back Serbia, keeping alive vague Serb hopes of a Russian veto.

NO COMPROMISE

Washington led NATO's 1999 bombing campaign to drive out Serb forces and halt the killing and expulsion of ethnic Albanians in a two-year Serb counter-insurgency war.

It tops Kosovo's embassy wish-list ahead of London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Bern, and Vienna.

"These are the countries that we know for sure will accept Kosovo independence," said a Kosovo Albanian political source.

Belgrade and Moscow are listed in phase two, but that would require a sea change in Serbia's attitude to the amputation of its southern province, cherished as the heart of the country's medieval kingdom and rich in Orthodox heritage.

Ten thousand Albanians died and 800,000 fled during the 1998-99 war.

The West hopes the U.N. Security Council will adopt a resolution endorsing Ahtisaari's document by the summer. Delaying the move, they fear, might spark Albanian extremist violence against Serbs and the U.N. mission in Kosovo.

Political directors from the Kosovo Contact Group, comprising the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Russia, were to meet in London on Wednesday.

Kosovo leaders have hinted at a unilateral declaration of independence if there is no U.N. resolution.

Kosovo is "moving inevitably towards independence," politician Ylber Hysa said. "We are ready to go until the very end. There can be no compromising on independence."

AlertNet news is provided by