Serbia says Kosovo talks to resume Monday

Nov 20, 2011, 15:25 GMT

Belgrade - Serbia and Kosovo are to resume their EU-sponsored talks on Monday, Belgrade's chief negotiator, Borislav Stefanovic, was quoted as saying.

Belgrade walked out of the talks ahead of their seventh round in September, amid tensions in northern Kosovo, which is dominated by ethnic Serbs. The rest of Kosovo is predominantly Albanian.

Kosovo Serbs have since paralyzed the area with roadblocks in a bid to prevent the implementation of a border agreement. They fiercely resist Pristina's authority and insist they live on Serbian soil.

They also ignored Belgrade's instructions to remove barricades and have rejected earlier agreements produced in the talks as contrary to their interests.

But in order to receive formal recognition as a candidate for EU membership at a Brussels summit in December, Serbia must resume negotiations, which began in March, and implement agreements made so far.

It is unclear how Serbia intends to enforce earlier agreements with Pristina, with its compatriots in northern Kosovo hostile to them.

According to Stefanovic, on the agenda Monday are Kosovo's participation in regional forums - which Serbia routinely blocks - and mutual recognition of school diplomas.

Also on the agenda is the contested border, or 'boundary,' as Serbian officials refer to it in order not to recognize Kosovo's sovereignty.

Backed by the United States and other big Western powers, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. It was quickly recognized by 22 out of the 27 EU nations and most countries in the region.

But Belgrade officials vowed never to accept the loss of Kosovo or stop fighting its secession. At the same time, President Boris Tadic's ruling coalition also promised to lead Serbia closer to EU membership.

However, the two goals have collided fiercely, causing political turmoil ahead of elections due to take place no later than May 2012.

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