Europe News
Merkel in Belgrade to press for resolution of Kosovo problems
Aug 23, 2011, 6:40 GMT
Belgrade - German Chancellor Angela Merkel was set to meet Tuesday in Belgrade with Serb leaders to discuss renewed tensions in Kosovo and Serbia's European Union aspirations.
She is scheduled to meet the leader of the fragile ruling pro-European coalition, President Boris Tadic, and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic.
Merkel will press for a solution of a trade row, which in late July escalated into violence in the Serb enclave of the mostly Albanian Kosovo, officials in Belgrade said ahead of the talks.
She is expected to make it clear that Belgrade will not move closer to EU membership before it resolves relations with Kosovo.
On her first visit to Serbia as chancellor, Merkel will also send a signal of support to the pro-European bloc in Serbia by meeting the widow of prime minister Zoran Djindjic.
A strong pro-European reformist, Djindjic was assassinated in 2003.
With her stop in Belgrade, Merkel completes her two-day mini-tour of the western Balkans which she began Monday with talks in Croatia.
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