WASHINGTON (Reuters) - NATO military commanders and the Kosovo Liberation Army are
close to an agreement on the integration of the KLA into the NATO peacekeeping force in the
province, U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden said Sunday.

Biden, a ranking minority Democratic member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told
``Fox News Sunday'' that Britain's Lt. Gen. Sir Mike Jackson, who commands NATO-led
peacekeepers in Kosovo, was set to announce ``very shortly, a face-saving device where the
KLA, some portion of it, will be able to be integrated as essentially an arm of KFOR, under the
control of KFOR with civilian responsibility.''

Biden, a stalwart supporter of U.S. military and economic involvement in the Balkans, visited
Kosovo last week and had talks with Jackson and KLA leader Hashim Thaqi.

He said that in his two-hour talks with Thaqi, the Kosovo Albanian leader expressed concern
about the security of his people when NATO leaves.

He said Thaqi told him the KLA wanted to be sure it would be the army of Kosovo in the future.

Biden said the negotiations between Jackson and Thaqi would give the KLA ``some official
responsibility ... but does not allow them to be in uniform dictating outcomes in the countryside.''

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, on the same Fox program said the KLA had a
legitimate post-NATO military concern.

``They need some kind of security force. We can help train that force and should do that,'' he
said.

Both senators said the KLA should honor its commitment and disarm by the final demobilization
deadline on Sept. 19

Last week U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke in Pristina said the international community had
yet to decide what, if any, organization would be created to absorb KLA guerrillas after their
disbandment.

The ethnic Albanian KLA fought against Yugoslav army, Serb police and paramilitary units until
KFOR entered Kosovo in June.

Providing recognition and gainful employment for thousands of young guerrilla soldiers after Sept.
19 is shaping as a major test of the Kosovo peace process.

During his visit to the Balkans Biden warned that if the KLA failed to demobilize and retained any
quasi-military role after Sept. 19 the U.S. Congress would refuse further assistance to the
province.